label,species,text,pmid
1,36668,"Evolution of TRP channels inferred by their classification in diverse animal species.
The functions of TRP channels have primarily been characterized in model organisms within a limited evolutionary context. We thus characterize the TRP channels in choanoflagellate, sponge, Cnidaria, Lophotrochozoa, and arthropods to understand how they emerged during early evolution of animals and have changed during diversification of various species. As previously reported, five metazoan TRP subfamily members (TRPA, TRPC, TRPM, TRPML, and TRPV) were identified in choanoflagellates, demonstrating that they evolved before the emergence of multicellular animals. TRPN was identified in Hydra magnipapillata, and therefore emerged in the last common ancestor of Cnidaria-Bilateria. A novel subfamily member (TRPVL) was identified in Cnidaria and Capitella teleta, indicating that it was present in the last common ancestor of Cnidaria-Bilateria but has since been lost in most bilaterians. The characterization of arthropod TRP channels revealed that Daphnia pulex and insects have specifically expanded the TRPA subfamily, which diverged from the ancient TRPA1 channel gene. The diversity of TRPA channels except TRPA1 was detectable even within a single insect family, namely the [START]ant[END] lineage. The present study demonstrates the evolutionary history of TRP channel genes, which may have diverged in conjunction with the specific habitats and life histories of individual species. 
",24981559
1,50557,"Opposite effect of capsaicin and capsazepine on behavioral thermoregulation in [START]insects[END].
Transient receptor potential channels are implicated in thermosensation both in mammals and [START]insects[END]. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of mammalian vanilloid receptor subtype 1 (TRPV1) agonist (capsaicin) and antagonist (capsazepine) on [START]insect[END] behavioral thermoregulation. We tested behavioral thermoregulation of mealworms larvae intoxicated with capsaicin and capsazepine in two concentrations (10(-7) and 10(-4) M) in a thermal gradient system for 3 days. Our results revealed that in low concentration, capsaicin induces seeking lower temperatures than the ones selected by the [START]insects[END] that were not intoxicated. After application of capsazepine in the same concentration, the mealworms prefer higher temperatures than the control group. The observed opposite effect of TRPV1 agonist and antagonist on [START]insect[END] behavioral thermoregulation, which is similar to the effect of these substances on thermoregulation in mammals, indicates indirectly that capsaicin may act on receptors in [START]insects[END] that are functionally similar to TRPV1.
",21667066
1,6978,"Nociceptive Pathway in the Cockroach [START]Periplaneta americana[END].
Detecting and avoiding environmental threats such as those with a potential for injury is of crucial importance for an animal's survival. In this work, we examine the nociceptive pathway in an insect, the cockroach [START]Periplaneta americana[END], from detection of noxious stimuli to nocifensive behavior. We show that noxious stimuli applied to the cuticle of cockroaches evoke responses in sensory axons that are distinct from tactile sensory axons in the sensory afferent nerve. We also reveal differences in the evoked response of post-synaptic projection interneurons in the nerve cord to tactile versus noxious stimuli. Noxious stimuli are encoded in the cockroach nerve cord by fibers of diameter different from that of tactile and wind sensitive fibers with a slower conduction velocity of 2-3 m/s. Furthermore, recording from the neck-connectives show that the nociceptive information reaches the head ganglia. Removing the head ganglia results in a drastic decrease in the nocifensive response indicating that the head ganglia and the nerve cord are both involved in processing noxious stimuli.
",31496959
1,6978,"Effect of Capsaicin and Other Thermo-TRP Agonists on Thermoregulatory Processes in the [START]American Cockroach[END].
Capsaicin is known to activate heat receptor TRPV1 and induce changes in thermoregulatory processes of mammals. However, the mechanism by which capsaicin induces thermoregulatory responses in invertebrates is unknown. Insect thermoreceptors belong to the TRP receptors family, and are known to be activated not only by temperature, but also by other stimuli. In the following study, we evaluated the effects of different ligands that have been shown to activate (allyl isothiocyanate) or inhibit (camphor) heat receptors, as well as, activate (camphor) or inhibit (menthol and thymol) cold receptors in insects. Moreover, we decided to determine the effect of agonist (capsaicin) and antagonist (capsazepine) of mammalian heat receptor on the [START]American cockroach[END]'s thermoregulatory processes. We observed that capsaicin induced the decrease of the head temperature of immobilized cockroaches. Moreover, the examined ligands induced preference for colder environments, when insects were allowed to choose the ambient temperature. Camphor exposure resulted in a preference for warm environments, but the changes in body temperature were not observed. The results suggest that capsaicin acts on the heat receptor in cockroaches and that TRP receptors are involved in cockroaches' thermosensation.
",30567399
1,7070,"The roles of thermal transient receptor potential channels in thermotactic behavior and in thermal acclimation in the [START]red flour beetle[END], [START]Tribolium castaneum[END].
To survive in variable or fluctuating temperature, organisms should show appropriate behavioral and physiological responses which must be mediated through properly attuned thermal sensory mechanisms. Transient receptor potential channels (TRPs) are a family of cation channels a number of which, called thermo-TRPs, are known to function as thermosensors. We investigated the potential role of thermo-TPRs that have been previously identified in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, in thermotaxis and thermal acclimation in the [START]red flour beetle[END], [START]Tribolium castaneum[END]. Phylogenetic analysis of the trp genes showed generally one-to-one orthology between those in D. melanogaster and in [START]T. castaneum[END], although there are putative gene-losses in two TRP subfamilies of D. melanogaster. With RNA interference (RNAi) of [START]T. castaneum[END] thermo-TRP candidates painless, pyrexia and trpA1, we measured thermal avoidance behavior. RNAi of trpA1 resulted in reduced avoidance of high temperatures, 39 and 42  C. We also measured the effects of RNAi on heat-induced knockout and death under a short exposure to high temperature (1min at 52  C) either with or without a 10-min acclimation period at 42  C. Relatively short exposure to high temperature was enough to induce high temperature thermal acclimation. RNAi of trpA1 led to faster knockout at 52  C. RNAi of painless showed lower recovery rates from heat-induced knockout after thermal acclimation, and RNAi of pyrexia showed lower long-term survivorship without thermal acclimation. Therefore, we concluded that trpA1 is important in high temperature sensing and also in enhanced tolerance to high-temperature induced knockout; painless plays a role in rapid acclimation to high temperature; and pyrexia functions in protecting beetles from acute heat stress without acclimation.
",25813190
1,7227,"The roles of thermal transient receptor potential channels in thermotactic behavior and in thermal acclimation in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum.
To survive in variable or fluctuating temperature, organisms should show appropriate behavioral and physiological responses which must be mediated through properly attuned thermal sensory mechanisms. Transient receptor potential channels (TRPs) are a family of cation channels a number of which, called thermo-TRPs, are known to function as thermosensors. We investigated the potential role of thermo-TPRs that have been previously identified in the [START]fruit fly[END], [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], in thermotaxis and thermal acclimation in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Phylogenetic analysis of the trp genes showed generally one-to-one orthology between those in [START]D. melanogaster[END] and in T. castaneum, although there are putative gene-losses in two TRP subfamilies of [START]D. melanogaster[END]. With RNA interference (RNAi) of T. castaneum thermo-TRP candidates painless, pyrexia and trpA1, we measured thermal avoidance behavior. RNAi of trpA1 resulted in reduced avoidance of high temperatures, 39 and 42  C. We also measured the effects of RNAi on heat-induced knockout and death under a short exposure to high temperature (1min at 52  C) either with or without a 10-min acclimation period at 42  C. Relatively short exposure to high temperature was enough to induce high temperature thermal acclimation. RNAi of trpA1 led to faster knockout at 52  C. RNAi of painless showed lower recovery rates from heat-induced knockout after thermal acclimation, and RNAi of pyrexia showed lower long-term survivorship without thermal acclimation. Therefore, we concluded that trpA1 is important in high temperature sensing and also in enhanced tolerance to high-temperature induced knockout; painless plays a role in rapid acclimation to high temperature; and pyrexia functions in protecting beetles from acute heat stress without acclimation.
",25813190
1,7130,"Tiling of the body wall by multidendritic sensory neurons in [START]Manduca sexta[END].
A plexus of multidendritic sensory neurons, the dendritic arborization (da) neurons, innervates the epidermis of soft-bodied insects. Previous studies have indicated that the plexus may comprise distinct subtypes of da neurons, which utilize diverse cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate signaling pathways and could serve several functions. Here, we identify three distinct classes of da neurons in [START]Manduca[END], which we term the alpha, beta, and gamma classes. These three classes differ in their sensory responses, branch complexity, peripheral dendritic fields, and axonal projections. The two identified alpha neurons branch over defined regions of the body wall, which in some cases correspond to specific natural folds of the cuticle. These cells project to an intermediate region of the neuropil and appear to function as proprioceptors. Three beta neurons are characterized by long, sinuous dendritic branches and axons that terminate in the ventral neuropil. The function of this group of neurons is unknown. Four neurons belonging to the gamma class have the most complex peripheral dendrites. A representative gamma neuron responds to forceful touch of the cuticle. Although the dendrites of da neurons of different classes may overlap extensively, cells belonging to the same class show minimal dendritic overlap. As a result, the body wall is independently tiled by the beta and gamma da neurons and partially innervated by the alpha neurons. These properties of the da system likely allow insects to discriminate the quality and location of several types of stimuli acting on the cuticle.
",11745623
1,7130,"Nociceptive neurons respond to multimodal stimuli in [START]Manduca sexta[END].
The caterpillar [START]Manduca sexta[END] produces a highly stereotyped strike behavior in response to noxious thermal or mechanical stimuli to the abdomen. This rapid movement is targeted to the site of the stimulus, but the identity of the nociceptive sensory neurons are currently unknown. It is also not known whether both mechanical and thermal stimuli are detected by the same neurons. Here, we show that the likelihood of a strike increases with the strength of the stimulus and that activity in nerves innervating the body wall increases rapidly in response to noxious stimuli. Mechanical and thermal stimuli to the dorsal body wall activate the same sensory unit, suggesting it represents a multimodal neuron. This is further supported by the effects of rapidly repeated thermal or mechanical stimuli, which cause a depression of neuronal responsiveness that is generalized across modalities. Mapping the receptive fields of neurons responding to strong thermal stimuli indicates that these multimodal, nociceptive units are produced by class gamma multidendritic neurons in the body wall.
",31932302
1,7227,"Nociceptive neurons protect [START]Drosophila[END] larvae from parasitoid wasps.
BACKGROUND: Natural selection has resulted in a complex and fascinating repertoire of innate behaviors that are produced by insects. One puzzling example occurs in [START]fruit fly[END] larvae that have been subjected to a noxious mechanical or thermal sensory input. In response, the larvae ""roll"" with a motor pattern that is completely distinct from the style of locomotion that is used for foraging. RESULTS: We have precisely mapped the sensory neurons that are used by the [START]Drosophila[END] larvae to detect nociceptive stimuli. By using complementary optogenetic activation and targeted silencing of sensory neurons, we have demonstrated that a single class of neuron (class IV multidendritic neuron) is sufficient and necessary for triggering the unusual rolling behavior. In addition, we find that larvae have an innately encoded preference in the directionality of rolling. Surprisingly, the initial direction of rolling locomotion is toward the side of the body that has been stimulated. We propose that directional rolling might provide a selective advantage in escape from parasitoid wasps that are ubiquitously present in the natural environment of [START]Drosophila[END]. Consistent with this hypothesis, we have documented that larvae can escape the attack of Leptopilina boulardi parasitoid wasps by rolling, occasionally flipping the attacker onto its back. CONCLUSIONS: The class IV multidendritic neurons of [START]Drosophila[END] larvae are nociceptive. The nociception behavior of [START]Drosophila[END] melanagaster larvae includes an innately encoded directional preference. Nociception behavior is elicited by the ecologically relevant sensory stimulus of parasitoid wasp attack.
",18060782
1,7227,"Thermal nociception in adult [START]Drosophila[END]: behavioral characterization and the role of the painless gene.
Nociception, warning of injury that should be avoided, serves an important protective function in animals. In this study, we show that adult [START]Drosophila[END] avoids noxious heat by a jump response. To quantitatively analyze this nociceptive behavior, we developed two assays. In the CO2 laser beam assay, flies exhibit this behavior when a laser beam heats their abdomens. The consistency of the jump latency in this assay meets an important criterion for a good nociceptive assay. In the hot plate assay, flies jump quickly to escape from a hot copper plate (>45 degrees C). Our results demonstrate that, as in mammals, the latency of the jump response is inversely related to stimulus intensity, and innoxious thermosensation does not elicit this nociceptive behavior. To explore the genetic mechanisms of nociception, we examined several mutants in both assays. Abnormal nociceptive behavior of a mutant, painless, indicates that painless, a gene essential for nociception in [START]Drosophila[END] larvae, is also required for thermal nociception in adult flies. painless is expressed in certain neurons of the peripheral nervous system and thoracic ganglia, as well as in the definite brain structures, the mushroom bodies. However, chemical or genetic insults to the mushroom bodies do not influence the nociceptive behavior, suggesting that different painless-expressing neurons play diverse roles in thermal nociception. Additionally, no-bridge(KS49), a mutant that has a structural defect in the protocerebral bridge, shows defective response to noxious heat. Thus, our results validate adult [START]Drosophila[END] as a useful model to study the genetic mechanisms of thermal nociception.
",17081265
1,7227,"[START]Drosophila[END] NOMPC is a mechanotransduction channel subunit for gentle-touch sensation.
Touch sensation is essential for behaviours ranging from environmental exploration to social interaction; however, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. In [START]Drosophila[END] larvae, two types of sensory neurons, class III and class IV dendritic arborization neurons, tile the body wall. The mechanotransduction channel PIEZO in class IV neurons is essential for sensing noxious mechanical stimuli but is not involved in gentle touch. On the basis of electrophysiological-recording, calcium-imaging and behavioural studies, here we report that class III dendritic arborization neurons are touch sensitive and contribute to gentle-touch sensation. We further identify NOMPC (No mechanoreceptor potential C), a member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family of ion channels, as a mechanotransduction channel for gentle touch. NOMPC is highly expressed in class III neurons and is required for their mechanotransduction. Moreover, ectopic NOMPC expression confers touch sensitivity to the normally touch-insensitive class IV neurons. In addition to the critical role of NOMPC in eliciting gentle-touch-mediated behavioural responses, expression of this protein in the [START]Drosophila[END] S2 cell line also gives rise to mechanosensitive channels in which ion selectivity can be altered by NOMPC mutation, indicating that NOMPC is a pore-forming subunit of a mechanotransduction channel. Our study establishes NOMPC as a bona fide mechanotransduction channel that satisfies all four criteria proposed for a channel to qualify as a transducer of mechanical stimuli and mediates gentle-touch sensation. Our study also suggests that different mechanosensitive channels may be used to sense gentle touch versus noxious mechanical stimuli.
",23222543
1,7227,"An assay for chemical nociception in [START]Drosophila[END] larvae.
Chemically induced nociception has not yet been studied intensively in genetically tractable models. Hence, our goal was to establish a [START]Drosophila[END] assay that can be used to study the cellular and molecular/genetic bases of chemically induced nociception. [START]Drosophila[END] larvae exposed to increasing concentrations of hydrochloric acid (HCl) produced an increasingly intense aversive rolling response. HCl (0.5%) was subthreshold and provoked no response. All classes of peripheral multidendritic (md) sensory neurons (classes I-IV) are required for full responsiveness to acid, with class IV making the largest contribution. At the cellular level, classes IV, III and I showed increases in calcium following acid exposure. In the central nervous system, Basin-4 second-order neurons are the key regulators of chemically induced nociception, with a slight contribution from other types. Finally, chemical nociception can be sensitized by tissue damage. Subthreshold HCl provoked chemical allodynia in larvae 4 h after physical puncture wounding. Pinch wounding and UV irradiation, which do not compromise the cuticle, did not cause chemical allodynia. In sum, we developed a novel assay to study chemically induced nociception in [START]Drosophila[END] larvae. This assay, combined with the high genetic resolving power of [START]Drosophila[END], should improve our basic understanding of fundamental mechanisms of chemical nociception. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Evolution of mechanisms and behaviour important for pain'.
",31544619
1,7227,"painless, a [START]Drosophila[END] gene essential for nociception.
We describe a paradigm for nociception in [START]Drosophila[END]. In response to the touch of a probe heated above 38 degrees C, [START]Drosophila[END] larvae produce a stereotypical rolling behavior, unlike the response to an unheated probe. In a genetic screen for mutants defective in this noxious heat response, we identified the painless gene. Recordings from wild-type larval nerves identified neurons that initiated strong spiking above 38 degrees C, and this activity was absent in the painless mutant. The painless mRNA encodes a protein of the transient receptor potential ion channel family. Painless is required for both thermal and mechanical nociception, but not for sensing light touch. painless is expressed in peripheral neurons that extend multiple branched dendrites beneath the larval epidermis, similar to vertebrate pain receptors. An antibody to Painless binds to localized dendritic structures that we hypothesize are involved in nociceptive signaling.
",12705873
1,7227,"Pickpocket is a DEG/ENaC protein required for mechanical nociception in [START]Drosophila[END] larvae.
Highly branched class IV multidendritic sensory neurons of the [START]Drosophila[END] larva function as polymodal nociceptors that are necessary for behavioral responses to noxious heat (>39 degrees C) or noxious mechanical (>30 mN) stimuli. However, the molecular mechanisms that allow these cells to detect both heat and force are unknown. Here, we report that the pickpocket (ppk) gene, which encodes a Degenerin/Epithelial Sodium Channel (DEG/ENaC) subunit, is required for mechanical nociception but not thermal nociception in these sensory cells. Larvae mutant for pickpocket show greatly reduced nociception behaviors in response to harsh mechanical stimuli. However, pickpocket mutants display normal behavioral responses to gentle touch. Tissue-specific knockdown of pickpocket in nociceptors phenocopies the mechanical nociception impairment without causing defects in thermal nociception behavior. Finally, optogenetically triggered nociception behavior is unaffected by pickpocket RNAi, which indicates that ppk is not generally required for the excitability of the nociceptors. Interestingly, DEG/ENaCs are known to play a critical role in detecting gentle touch stimuli in Caenorhabditis elegans and have also been implicated in some aspects of harsh touch sensation in mammals. Our results suggest that neurons that detect harsh touch in [START]Drosophila[END] utilize similar mechanosensory molecules.
",20171104
1,7227,"Multidendritic sensory neurons in the adult [START]Drosophila[END] abdomen: origins, dendritic morphology, and segment- and age-dependent programmed cell death.
BACKGROUND: For the establishment of functional neural circuits that support a wide range of animal behaviors, initial circuits formed in early development have to be reorganized. One way to achieve this is local remodeling of the circuitry hardwiring. To genetically investigate the underlying mechanisms of this remodeling, one model system employs a major group of [START]Drosophila[END] multidendritic sensory neurons - the dendritic arborization (da) neurons - which exhibit dramatic dendritic pruning and subsequent growth during metamorphosis. The 15 da neurons are identified in each larval abdominal hemisegment and are classified into four categories - classes I to IV - in order of increasing size of their receptive fields and/or arbor complexity at the mature larval stage. Our knowledge regarding the anatomy and developmental basis of adult da neurons is still fragmentary. RESULTS: We identified multidendritic neurons in the adult [START]Drosophila[END] abdomen, visualized the dendritic arbors of the individual neurons, and traced the origins of those cells back to the larval stage. There were six da neurons in abdominal hemisegment 3 or 4 (A3/4) of the pharate adult and the adult just after eclosion, five of which were persistent larval da neurons. We quantitatively analyzed dendritic arbors of three of the six adult neurons and examined expression in the pharate adult of key transcription factors that result in the larval class-selective dendritic morphologies. The 'baseline design' of A3/4 in the adult was further modified in a segment-dependent and age-dependent manner. One of our notable findings is that a larval class I neuron, ddaE, completed dendritic remodeling in A2 to A4 and then underwent caspase-dependent cell death within 1 week after eclosion, while homologous neurons in A5 and in more posterior segments degenerated at pupal stages. Another finding is that the dendritic arbor of a class IV neuron, v'ada, was immediately reshaped during post-eclosion growth. It exhibited prominent radial-to-lattice transformation in 1-day-old adults, and the resultant lattice-shaped arbor persisted throughout adult life. CONCLUSION: Our study provides the basis on which we can investigate the genetic programs controlling dendritic remodeling and programmed cell death of adult neurons, and the life-long maintenance of dendritic arbors.
",19799768
1,7227,"The role of [START]Drosophila[END] Piezo in mechanical nociception.
Transduction of mechanical stimuli by receptor cells is essential for senses such as hearing, touch and pain. Ion channels have a role in neuronal mechanotransduction in invertebrates; however, functional conservation of these ion channels in mammalian mechanotransduction is not observed. For example, no mechanoreceptor potential C (NOMPC), a member of transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel family, acts as a mechanotransducer in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] and Caenorhabditis elegans; however, it has no orthologues in mammals. Degenerin/epithelial sodium channel (DEG/ENaC) family members are mechanotransducers in C. elegans and potentially in [START]D. melanogaster[END]; however, a direct role of its mammalian homologues in sensing mechanical force has not been shown. Recently, Piezo1 (also known as Fam38a) and Piezo2 (also known as Fam38b) were identified as components of mechanically activated channels in mammals. The Piezo family are evolutionarily conserved transmembrane proteins. It is unknown whether they function in mechanical sensing in vivo and, if they do, which mechanosensory modalities they mediate. Here we study the physiological role of the single Piezo member in [START]D. melanogaster[END] (Dmpiezo; also known as CG8486). Dmpiezo expression in human cells induces mechanically activated currents, similar to its mammalian counterparts. Behavioural responses to noxious mechanical stimuli were severely reduced in Dmpiezo knockout larvae, whereas responses to another noxious stimulus or touch were not affected. Knocking down Dmpiezo in sensory neurons that mediate nociception and express the DEG/ENaC ion channel pickpocket (ppk) was sufficient to impair responses to noxious mechanical stimuli. Furthermore, expression of Dmpiezo in these same neurons rescued the phenotype of the constitutive Dmpiezo knockout larvae. Accordingly, electrophysiological recordings from ppk-positive neurons revealed a Dmpiezo-dependent, mechanically activated current. Finally, we found that Dmpiezo and ppk function in parallel pathways in ppk-positive cells, and that mechanical nociception is abolished in the absence of both channels. These data demonstrate the physiological relevance of the Piezo family in mechanotransduction in vivo, supporting a role of Piezo proteins in mechanosensory nociception.
",22343891
1,7227,"Response of [START]Drosophila[END] to wasabi is mediated by painless, the fly homolog of mammalian TRPA1/ANKTM1.
A number of repellent compounds produced by plants elicit a spicy or pungent sensation in mammals . In several cases, this has been found to occur through activation of ion channels in the transient receptor potential (TRP) family . We report that isothiocyanate (ITC), the pungent ingredient of wasabi, is a repellent to the insect [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], and that the painless gene, previously known to be required for larval nociception, is required for this avoidance behavior. A painless reporter gene is expressed in gustatory receptor neurons of the labial palpus, tarsus, and wing anterior margin, but not in olfactory receptor neurons, suggesting a gustatory role. Indeed, painless expression overlaps with a variety of gustatory-receptor gene reporters. Some, such as Gr66a, are known to be expressed in neurons that mediate gustatory repulsion . painless mutants are not taste blind; they show normal aversive gustatory behavior with salt and quinine and attractive responses to sugars and capsaicin. The painless gene is an evolutionary homolog of the mammalian ""wasabi receptor"" TRPA1/ANKTM1 , also thought to be involved in nociception. Our results suggest that the stinging sensation of isothiocyanate is caused by activation of an evolutionarily conserved molecular pathway that is also used for nociception.
",16647259
1,13686,"HsTRPA of the [START]Red Imported Fire Ant[END], [START]Solenopsis invicta[END], Functions as a Nocisensor and Uncovers the Evolutionary Plasticity of HsTRPA Channels.
[START]Solenopsis invicta[END], the [START]red imported fire ant[END], represents one of the most devastating invasive species. To understand their sensory physiology, we identified and characterized their Hymenoptera-specific (Hs) TRPA channel, SiHsTRPA. Consistent with the sensory functions of SiHsTRPA, it is activated by heat, an electrophile, and an insect repellent. Nevertheless, SiHsTRPA does not respond to most of the honey bee ortholog (AmHsTRPA)-activating compounds. The jewel wasp ortholog (NvHsTRPA) is activated by these compounds even though it outgroups both AmHsTRPA and SiHsTRPA. Characterization of AmHsTRPA/SiHsTRPA chimeric channels revealed that the amino acids in the N terminus, as well as ankyrin repeat 2 (AR2) of AmHsTRPA, are essential for the response to camphor. Furthermore, amino acids in ARs 3 and 5-7 were specifically required for the response to diallyl disulfide. Thus, amino acid substitutions in the corresponding domains of SiHsTRPA during evolution would be responsible for the loss of chemical sensitivity. SiHsTRPA-activating compounds repel [START]red imported fire ants[END], suggesting that SiHsTRPA functions as a sensor for noxious compounds. SiHsTRPA represents an example of the species-specific modulation of orthologous TRPA channel properties by amino acid substitutions in multiple domains, and SiHsTRPA-activating compounds could be used to develop a method for controlling [START]red imported fire ants[END].
",29445768
1,29058,"A TRPA1 channel that senses thermal stimulus and irritating chemicals in [START]Helicoverpa armigera[END].
Sensing and responding to changes in the external environment is important for insect survival. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are crucial for various sensory modalities including olfaction, vision, hearing, thermosensation and mechanosensation. Here, we identified and characterized a transient receptor potential gene named as HarmTRPA1 in [START]Helicoverpa armigera[END] antennae. HarmTRPA1 was abundantly expressed in the antennae and labial palps. Transcripts of HarmTRPA1 could also be detected in the head and proboscis. Furthermore, functional analyses of HarmTRPA1 were conducted in the Xenopus Oocyte system. The results showed that the HarmTRPA1 channel could be activated by increasing the temperature from 20 to 45  C. No significant adaptation was observed when the stimulus was repeated. In addition to thermal stimuli, pungent natural compounds including allyl isothiocyanate, cinnamaldehyde and citronellal also activated HarmTRPA1. Taken together, we infer that HarmTRPA1 may function as both a thermal sensor involved in peripheral temperature detection and as a chemical sensor detecting irritating chemicals in vivo. Our data provide valuable insight into the TRPA1 channel in this moth and lay the foundation for developing novel strategies for pest control. 
",25827167
1,6999,"Insights into the genomic evolution of insects from cricket genomes.
Most of our knowledge of insect genomes comes from Holometabolous species, which undergo complete metamorphosis and have genomes typically under 2 Gb with little signs of DNA methylation. In contrast, Hemimetabolous insects undergo the presumed ancestral process of incomplete metamorphosis, and have larger genomes with high levels of DNA methylation. Hemimetabolous species from the Orthopteran order (grasshoppers and crickets) have some of the largest known insect genomes. What drives the evolution of these unusual insect genome sizes, remains unknown. Here we report the sequencing, assembly and annotation of the 1.66-Gb genome of the Mediterranean field cricket [START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END], and the annotation of the 1.60-Gb genome of the Hawaiian cricket Laupala kohalensis. We compare these two cricket genomes with those of 14 additional insects and find evidence that hemimetabolous genomes expanded due to transposable element activity. Based on the ratio of observed to expected CpG sites, we find higher conservation and stronger purifying selection of methylated genes than non-methylated genes. Finally, our analysis suggests an expansion of the pickpocket class V gene family in crickets, which we speculate might play a role in the evolution of cricket courtship, including their characteristic chirping.
",34127782
1,109027,"Insights into the genomic evolution of insects from cricket genomes.
Most of our knowledge of insect genomes comes from Holometabolous species, which undergo complete metamorphosis and have genomes typically under 2 Gb with little signs of DNA methylation. In contrast, Hemimetabolous insects undergo the presumed ancestral process of incomplete metamorphosis, and have larger genomes with high levels of DNA methylation. Hemimetabolous species from the Orthopteran order (grasshoppers and crickets) have some of the largest known insect genomes. What drives the evolution of these unusual insect genome sizes, remains unknown. Here we report the sequencing, assembly and annotation of the 1.66-Gb genome of the Mediterranean field cricket Gryllus bimaculatus, and the annotation of the 1.60-Gb genome of the Hawaiian cricket [START]Laupala kohalensis[END]. We compare these two cricket genomes with those of 14 additional insects and find evidence that hemimetabolous genomes expanded due to transposable element activity. Based on the ratio of observed to expected CpG sites, we find higher conservation and stronger purifying selection of methylated genes than non-methylated genes. Finally, our analysis suggests an expansion of the pickpocket class V gene family in crickets, which we speculate might play a role in the evolution of cricket courtship, including their characteristic chirping.
",34127782
1,7227,"A genome-wide [START]Drosophila[END] screen for heat nociception identifies alpha2delta3 as an evolutionarily conserved pain gene.
Worldwide, acute, and chronic pain affects 20% of the adult population and represents an enormous financial and emotional burden. Using genome-wide neuronal-specific RNAi knockdown in [START]Drosophila[END], we report a global screen for an innate behavior and identify hundreds of genes implicated in heat nociception, including the alpha2delta family calcium channel subunit straightjacket (stj). Mice mutant for the stj ortholog CACNA2D3 (alpha2delta3) also exhibit impaired behavioral heat pain sensitivity. In addition, in humans, alpha2delta3 SNP variants associate with reduced sensitivity to acute noxious heat and chronic back pain. Functional imaging in alpha2delta3 mutant mice revealed impaired transmission of thermal pain-evoked signals from the thalamus to higher-order pain centers. Intriguingly, in alpha2delta3 mutant mice, thermal pain and tactile stimulation triggered strong cross-activation, or synesthesia, of brain regions involved in vision, olfaction, and hearing.
",21074052
1,7227,"Evolutionary conservation and changes in insect TRP channels.
BACKGROUND: TRP (Transient Receptor Potential) channels respond to diverse stimuli and thus function as the primary integrators of varied sensory information. They are also activated by various compounds and secondary messengers to mediate cell-cell interactions as well as to detect changes in the local environment. Their physiological roles have been primarily characterized only in mice and [START]fruit flies[END], and evolutionary studies are limited. To understand the evolution of insect TRP channels and the mechanisms of integrating sensory inputs in insects, we have identified and compared TRP channel genes in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], Bombyx mori, Tribolium castaneum, Apis mellifera, Nasonia vitripennis, and Pediculus humanus genomes as part of genome sequencing efforts. RESULTS: All the insects examined have 2 TRPV, 1 TRPN, 1 TRPM, 3 TRPC, and 1 TRPML subfamily members, demonstrating that these channels have the ancient origins in insects. The common pattern also suggests that the mechanisms for detecting mechanical and visual stimuli and maintaining lysosomal functions may be evolutionarily well conserved in insects. However, a TRPP channel, the most ancient TRP channel, is missing in B. mori, A. mellifera, and N. vitripennis. Although P. humanus and [START]D. melanogaster[END] contain 4 TRPA subfamily members, the other insects have 5 TRPA subfamily members. T. castaneum, A. mellifera, and N. vitripennis contain TRPA5 channels, which have been specifically retained or gained in Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. Furthermore, TRPA1, which functions for thermotaxis in [START]Drosophila[END], is missing in A. mellifera and N. vitripennis; however, they have other Hymenoptera-specific TRPA channels (AmHsTRPA and NvHsTRPA). NvHsTRPA expressed in HEK293 cells is activated by temperature increase, demonstrating that HsTRPAs function as novel thermal sensors in Hymenoptera. CONCLUSION: The total number of insect TRP family members is 13-14, approximately half that of mammalian TRP family members. As shown for mammalian TRP channels, this may suggest that single TRP channels are responsible for integrating diverse sensory inputs to maintain the insect sensory systems. The above results demonstrate that there are both evolutionary conservation and changes in insect TRP channels. In particular, the evolutionary processes have been accelerated in the TRPA subfamily, indicating divergence in the mechanisms that insects use to detect environmental temperatures.
",19740447
1,7091,"Evolutionary conservation and changes in insect TRP channels.
BACKGROUND: TRP (Transient Receptor Potential) channels respond to diverse stimuli and thus function as the primary integrators of varied sensory information. They are also activated by various compounds and secondary messengers to mediate cell-cell interactions as well as to detect changes in the local environment. Their physiological roles have been primarily characterized only in mice and fruit flies, and evolutionary studies are limited. To understand the evolution of insect TRP channels and the mechanisms of integrating sensory inputs in insects, we have identified and compared TRP channel genes in Drosophila melanogaster, [START]Bombyx mori[END], Tribolium castaneum, Apis mellifera, Nasonia vitripennis, and Pediculus humanus genomes as part of genome sequencing efforts. RESULTS: All the insects examined have 2 TRPV, 1 TRPN, 1 TRPM, 3 TRPC, and 1 TRPML subfamily members, demonstrating that these channels have the ancient origins in insects. The common pattern also suggests that the mechanisms for detecting mechanical and visual stimuli and maintaining lysosomal functions may be evolutionarily well conserved in insects. However, a TRPP channel, the most ancient TRP channel, is missing in [START]B. mori[END], A. mellifera, and N. vitripennis. Although P. humanus and D. melanogaster contain 4 TRPA subfamily members, the other insects have 5 TRPA subfamily members. T. castaneum, A. mellifera, and N. vitripennis contain TRPA5 channels, which have been specifically retained or gained in Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. Furthermore, TRPA1, which functions for thermotaxis in Drosophila, is missing in A. mellifera and N. vitripennis; however, they have other Hymenoptera-specific TRPA channels (AmHsTRPA and NvHsTRPA). NvHsTRPA expressed in HEK293 cells is activated by temperature increase, demonstrating that HsTRPAs function as novel thermal sensors in Hymenoptera. CONCLUSION: The total number of insect TRP family members is 13-14, approximately half that of mammalian TRP family members. As shown for mammalian TRP channels, this may suggest that single TRP channels are responsible for integrating diverse sensory inputs to maintain the insect sensory systems. The above results demonstrate that there are both evolutionary conservation and changes in insect TRP channels. In particular, the evolutionary processes have been accelerated in the TRPA subfamily, indicating divergence in the mechanisms that insects use to detect environmental temperatures.
",19740447
1,7070,"Evolutionary conservation and changes in insect TRP channels.
BACKGROUND: TRP (Transient Receptor Potential) channels respond to diverse stimuli and thus function as the primary integrators of varied sensory information. They are also activated by various compounds and secondary messengers to mediate cell-cell interactions as well as to detect changes in the local environment. Their physiological roles have been primarily characterized only in mice and fruit flies, and evolutionary studies are limited. To understand the evolution of insect TRP channels and the mechanisms of integrating sensory inputs in insects, we have identified and compared TRP channel genes in Drosophila melanogaster, Bombyx mori, [START]Tribolium castaneum[END], Apis mellifera, Nasonia vitripennis, and Pediculus humanus genomes as part of genome sequencing efforts. RESULTS: All the insects examined have 2 TRPV, 1 TRPN, 1 TRPM, 3 TRPC, and 1 TRPML subfamily members, demonstrating that these channels have the ancient origins in insects. The common pattern also suggests that the mechanisms for detecting mechanical and visual stimuli and maintaining lysosomal functions may be evolutionarily well conserved in insects. However, a TRPP channel, the most ancient TRP channel, is missing in B. mori, A. mellifera, and N. vitripennis. Although P. humanus and D. melanogaster contain 4 TRPA subfamily members, the other insects have 5 TRPA subfamily members. [START]T. castaneum[END], A. mellifera, and N. vitripennis contain TRPA5 channels, which have been specifically retained or gained in Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. Furthermore, TRPA1, which functions for thermotaxis in Drosophila, is missing in A. mellifera and N. vitripennis; however, they have other Hymenoptera-specific TRPA channels (AmHsTRPA and NvHsTRPA). NvHsTRPA expressed in HEK293 cells is activated by temperature increase, demonstrating that HsTRPAs function as novel thermal sensors in Hymenoptera. CONCLUSION: The total number of insect TRP family members is 13-14, approximately half that of mammalian TRP family members. As shown for mammalian TRP channels, this may suggest that single TRP channels are responsible for integrating diverse sensory inputs to maintain the insect sensory systems. The above results demonstrate that there are both evolutionary conservation and changes in insect TRP channels. In particular, the evolutionary processes have been accelerated in the TRPA subfamily, indicating divergence in the mechanisms that insects use to detect environmental temperatures.
",19740447
1,7460,"Evolutionary conservation and changes in insect TRP channels.
BACKGROUND: TRP (Transient Receptor Potential) channels respond to diverse stimuli and thus function as the primary integrators of varied sensory information. They are also activated by various compounds and secondary messengers to mediate cell-cell interactions as well as to detect changes in the local environment. Their physiological roles have been primarily characterized only in mice and fruit flies, and evolutionary studies are limited. To understand the evolution of insect TRP channels and the mechanisms of integrating sensory inputs in insects, we have identified and compared TRP channel genes in Drosophila melanogaster, Bombyx mori, Tribolium castaneum, [START]Apis mellifera[END], Nasonia vitripennis, and Pediculus humanus genomes as part of genome sequencing efforts. RESULTS: All the insects examined have 2 TRPV, 1 TRPN, 1 TRPM, 3 TRPC, and 1 TRPML subfamily members, demonstrating that these channels have the ancient origins in insects. The common pattern also suggests that the mechanisms for detecting mechanical and visual stimuli and maintaining lysosomal functions may be evolutionarily well conserved in insects. However, a TRPP channel, the most ancient TRP channel, is missing in B. mori, [START]A. mellifera[END], and N. vitripennis. Although P. humanus and D. melanogaster contain 4 TRPA subfamily members, the other insects have 5 TRPA subfamily members. T. castaneum, [START]A. mellifera[END], and N. vitripennis contain TRPA5 channels, which have been specifically retained or gained in Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. Furthermore, TRPA1, which functions for thermotaxis in Drosophila, is missing in [START]A. mellifera[END] and N. vitripennis; however, they have other Hymenoptera-specific TRPA channels (AmHsTRPA and NvHsTRPA). NvHsTRPA expressed in HEK293 cells is activated by temperature increase, demonstrating that HsTRPAs function as novel thermal sensors in Hymenoptera. CONCLUSION: The total number of insect TRP family members is 13-14, approximately half that of mammalian TRP family members. As shown for mammalian TRP channels, this may suggest that single TRP channels are responsible for integrating diverse sensory inputs to maintain the insect sensory systems. The above results demonstrate that there are both evolutionary conservation and changes in insect TRP channels. In particular, the evolutionary processes have been accelerated in the TRPA subfamily, indicating divergence in the mechanisms that insects use to detect environmental temperatures.
",19740447
1,7425,"Evolutionary conservation and changes in insect TRP channels.
BACKGROUND: TRP (Transient Receptor Potential) channels respond to diverse stimuli and thus function as the primary integrators of varied sensory information. They are also activated by various compounds and secondary messengers to mediate cell-cell interactions as well as to detect changes in the local environment. Their physiological roles have been primarily characterized only in mice and fruit flies, and evolutionary studies are limited. To understand the evolution of insect TRP channels and the mechanisms of integrating sensory inputs in insects, we have identified and compared TRP channel genes in Drosophila melanogaster, Bombyx mori, Tribolium castaneum, Apis mellifera, [START]Nasonia vitripennis[END], and Pediculus humanus genomes as part of genome sequencing efforts. RESULTS: All the insects examined have 2 TRPV, 1 TRPN, 1 TRPM, 3 TRPC, and 1 TRPML subfamily members, demonstrating that these channels have the ancient origins in insects. The common pattern also suggests that the mechanisms for detecting mechanical and visual stimuli and maintaining lysosomal functions may be evolutionarily well conserved in insects. However, a TRPP channel, the most ancient TRP channel, is missing in B. mori, A. mellifera, and [START]N. vitripennis[END]. Although P. humanus and D. melanogaster contain 4 TRPA subfamily members, the other insects have 5 TRPA subfamily members. T. castaneum, A. mellifera, and [START]N. vitripennis[END] contain TRPA5 channels, which have been specifically retained or gained in Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. Furthermore, TRPA1, which functions for thermotaxis in Drosophila, is missing in A. mellifera and [START]N. vitripennis[END]; however, they have other Hymenoptera-specific TRPA channels (AmHsTRPA and NvHsTRPA). NvHsTRPA expressed in HEK293 cells is activated by temperature increase, demonstrating that HsTRPAs function as novel thermal sensors in Hymenoptera. CONCLUSION: The total number of insect TRP family members is 13-14, approximately half that of mammalian TRP family members. As shown for mammalian TRP channels, this may suggest that single TRP channels are responsible for integrating diverse sensory inputs to maintain the insect sensory systems. The above results demonstrate that there are both evolutionary conservation and changes in insect TRP channels. In particular, the evolutionary processes have been accelerated in the TRPA subfamily, indicating divergence in the mechanisms that insects use to detect environmental temperatures.
",19740447
1,7460,"[START]Honey bee[END] thermal/chemical sensor, AmHsTRPA, reveals neofunctionalization and loss of transient receptor potential channel genes.
Insects are relatively small heterothermic animals, thus they are highly susceptible to changes in ambient temperature. However, a group of [START]honey bees[END] is able to maintain the brood nest temperature between 32 C and 36 C by either cooling or heating the nest. Nevertheless, how [START]honey bees[END] sense the ambient temperature is not known. We identified a [START]honey bee[END] Hymenoptera-specific transient receptor potential A (HsTRPA) channel (AmHsTRPA), which is activated by heat with an apparent threshold temperature of 34 C and insect antifeedants such as camphor in vitro. AmHsTRPA is expressed in the antennal flagellum, and ablation of the antennal flagella and injection of AmHsTRPA inhibitors impair warmth avoidance of [START]honey bees[END]. Gustatory responses of [START]honey bees[END] to sucrose are suppressed by noxious heat and insect antifeedants, but are relieved in the presence of AmHsTRPA inhibitors. These results suggest that AmHsTRPA may function as a thermal/chemical sensor in vivo. As shown previously, Hymenoptera has lost the ancient chemical sensor TRPA1; however, AmHsTRPA is able to complement the function of Drosophila melanogaster TRPA1. These results demonstrate that HsTRPA, originally arisen by the duplication of Water witch, has acquired thermal- and chemical-responsive properties, which has resulted in the loss of ancient TRPA1. Thus, this is an example of neofunctionalization of the duplicated ion channel gene followed by the loss of the functionally equivalent ancient gene.
",20844118
1,7227,"Honey bee thermal/chemical sensor, AmHsTRPA, reveals neofunctionalization and loss of transient receptor potential channel genes.
Insects are relatively small heterothermic animals, thus they are highly susceptible to changes in ambient temperature. However, a group of honey bees is able to maintain the brood nest temperature between 32 C and 36 C by either cooling or heating the nest. Nevertheless, how honey bees sense the ambient temperature is not known. We identified a honey bee Hymenoptera-specific transient receptor potential A (HsTRPA) channel (AmHsTRPA), which is activated by heat with an apparent threshold temperature of 34 C and insect antifeedants such as camphor in vitro. AmHsTRPA is expressed in the antennal flagellum, and ablation of the antennal flagella and injection of AmHsTRPA inhibitors impair warmth avoidance of honey bees. Gustatory responses of honey bees to sucrose are suppressed by noxious heat and insect antifeedants, but are relieved in the presence of AmHsTRPA inhibitors. These results suggest that AmHsTRPA may function as a thermal/chemical sensor in vivo. As shown previously, Hymenoptera has lost the ancient chemical sensor TRPA1; however, AmHsTRPA is able to complement the function of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] TRPA1. These results demonstrate that HsTRPA, originally arisen by the duplication of Water witch, has acquired thermal- and chemical-responsive properties, which has resulted in the loss of ancient TRPA1. Thus, this is an example of neofunctionalization of the duplicated ion channel gene followed by the loss of the functionally equivalent ancient gene.
",20844118
1,7227,"The TRP Channels Pkd2, NompC, and Trpm Act in Cold-Sensing Neurons to Mediate Unique Aversive Behaviors to Noxious Cold in [START]Drosophila[END].
The basic mechanisms underlying noxious cold perception are not well understood. We developed [START]Drosophila[END] assays for noxious cold responses. Larvae respond to near-freezing temperatures via a mutually exclusive set of singular behaviors-in particular, a full-body contraction (CT). Class III (CIII) multidendritic sensory neurons are specifically activated by cold and optogenetic activation of these neurons elicits CT. Blocking synaptic transmission in CIII neurons inhibits CT. Genetically, the transient receptor potential (TRP) channels Trpm, NompC, and Polycystic kidney disease 2 (Pkd2) are expressed in CIII neurons, where each is required for CT. Misexpression of Pkd2 is sufficient to confer cold responsiveness. The optogenetic activation level of multimodal CIII neurons determines behavioral output, and visualization of neuronal activity supports this conclusion. Coactivation of cold- and heat-responsive sensory neurons suggests that the cold-evoked response circuitry is dominant. Our [START]Drosophila[END] model will enable a sophisticated molecular genetic dissection of cold nociceptive genes and circuits.
",27818173
1,7130,"Development and organization of a nitric-oxide-sensitive peripheral neural plexus in larvae of the moth, [START]Manduca sexta[END].
Each hemisegment of the [START]Manduca sexta[END] larva is supplied with a subepidermal plexus of approximately 350 multidendritic neurons. An initial set of neurons, the primary plexus neurons, arise at 35-45% of embryogenesis. These neurons comprise 12-16 uniquely identifiable neurons per hemisegment that have homologues in other insect larvae. Each spreads processes across a characteristic portion of the body wall and has an axon that projects into the central nervous system. Secondary plexus neurons are born in two waves: the first between 70% and 80% of embryogenesis and the second during the molt to the second larval stage. The secondary plexus neurons are multidendritic, spread uniformly across the body wall, and appear to make contacts with the primary plexus neurons. Each secondary plexus cell arises as part of a five-cell cluster; the other cells produce a sensory bristle and socket along with the bristle sensory neuron and a glial cell. Application of nitric oxide (NO) donors induces plexus neurons to produce cyclic 3',5' guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), suggesting the presence of soluble guanylate cyclase. With few exceptions, plexus neurons become sensitive to NO stimulation approximately 10 hours after their birth and remain so throughout larval life. Cyclic GMP is detected primarily in the cytoplasm of plexus neurons and extends into the finest peripheral dendrites. Our results suggest that cGMP participates in the development and/or physiology of this peripheral neural plexus.
",9886030
1,6978,"Altered heat nociception in cockroach [START]Periplaneta americana[END] L. exposed to capsaicin.
Some natural alkaloids, e.g. capsaicin and camphor, are known to induce a desensitization state, causing insensitivity to pain or noxious temperatures in mammals by acting on TRP receptors. Our research, for the first time, demonstrated that a phenomenon of pharmacological blockade of heat sensitivity may operate in [START]American cockroach[END], [START]Periplaneta americana[END] (L.). We studied the escape reaction time from 50 C for [START]American[END] cockroaches exposed to multiple doses of different drugs affecting thermo-TRP. Capsaicin, capsazepine, and camphor induced significant changes in time spent at noxious ambient temperatures. Moreover, we showed that behavioral thermoregulation in normal temperature ranges (10-40 C) is altered in treated cockroaches, which displayed a preference for warmer regions compared to non-treated insects. We also measured the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase activity to exclude the secondary effects of the drugs on these processes. Our results demonstrated that increase in time spent at 50 C (five versus one trial at a heat plate) induced oxidative stress, but only in control and vehicle-treated groups. In capsaicin, capsazepine, menthol, camphor and AITC-treated cockroaches the number of exposures to heat had no effect on the levels of MDA. Additionally, none of the tested compounds affected catalase activity. Our results demonstrate suppression of the heat sensitivity by repeated capsazepine, camphor and capsaicin administration in the [START]American cockroach[END].
",29518142
1,7227,"Ripped pocket and pickpocket, novel [START]Drosophila[END] DEG/ENaC subunits expressed in early development and in mechanosensory neurons.
[START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] has proven to be a good model for understanding the physiology of ion channels. We identified two novel [START]Drosophila[END] DEG/ ENaC proteins, Pickpocket (PPK) and Ripped Pocket (RPK). Both appear to be ion channel subunits. Expression of RPK generated multimeric Na+ channels that were dominantly activated by a mutation associated with neurodegeneration. Amiloride and gadolinium, which block mechanosensation in vivo, inhibited RPK channels. Although PPK did not form channels on its own, it associated with and reduced the current generated by a related human brain Na+ channel. RPK transcripts were abundant in early stage embryos, suggesting a role in development. In contrast, PPK was found in sensory dendrites of a subset of peripheral neurons in late stage embryos and early larvae. In insects, such multiple dendritic neurons play key roles in touch sensation and proprioception and their morphology resembles human mechanosensory free nerve endings. These results suggest that PPK may be a channel subunit involved in mechanosensation.
",9425162
1,7227,"Enhanced locomotion caused by loss of the [START]Drosophila[END] DEG/ENaC protein Pickpocket1.
Coordination of rhythmic locomotion depends upon a precisely balanced interplay between central and peripheral control mechanisms. Although poorly understood, peripheral proprioceptive mechanosensory input is thought to provide information about body position for moment-to-moment modifications of central mechanisms mediating rhythmic motor output. Pickpocket1 (PPK1) is a Drosophila subunit of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) family displaying limited expression in multiple dendritic (md) sensory neurons tiling the larval body wall and a small number of bipolar neurons in the upper brain. ppk1 null mutant larvae had normal external touch sensation and md neuron morphology but displayed striking alterations in crawling behavior. Loss of PPK1 function caused an increase in crawling speed and an unusual straight path with decreased stops and turns relative to wild-type. This enhanced locomotion resulted from sustained peristaltic contraction wave cycling at higher frequency with a significant decrease in pause period between contraction cycles. The mutant phenotype was rescued by a wild-type PPK1 transgene and duplicated by expressing a ppk1RNAi transgene or a dominant-negative PPK1 isoform. These results demonstrate that the PPK1 channel plays an essential role in controlling rhythmic locomotion and provide a powerful genetic model system for further analysis of central and peripheral control mechanisms and their role in movement disorders.
",12956960
1,7227,"[START]Drosophila[END] painless is a Ca2+-requiring channel activated by noxious heat.
Thermal changes activate some members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel super family. They are primary sensors for detecting environmental temperatures. The [START]Drosophila[END] TRP channel Painless is believed responsible for avoidance of noxious heat because painless mutant flies display defects in heat sensing. However, no studies have proven its heat responsiveness. We show that Painless expressed in human embryonic kidney-derived 293 (HEK293) cells is a noxious heat-activated, Ca(2+)-permeable channel, and the function is mostly dependent on Ca(2+). In Ca(2+)-imaging, Painless mediated a robust intracellular Ca(2+) (Ca(2+)(i)) increase during heating, and it showed heat-evoked inward currents in whole-cell patch-clamp mode. Ca(2+) permeability was much higher than that of other cations. Heat-evoked currents were negligible in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+) (Ca(2+)(o)) and Ca(2+)(i), whereas 200 nm Ca(2+)(i) enabled heat activation of Painless. Activation kinetics were significantly accelerated in the presence of Ca(2+)(i). The temperature threshold for Painless activation was 42.6 degrees C in the presence of Ca(2+)(i), whereas the threshold was significantly increased to 44.1 degrees C when only Ca(2+)(o) was present. Temperature thresholds were further reduced after repetitive heating in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. Ca(2+)-dependent heat activation of Painless was observed at the single-channel level in excised membranes. We found that a Ca(2+)-regulatory site is located in the N-terminal region of Painless. Painless-expressing HEK293 cells were insensitive to various thermosensitive TRP channel activators including allyl isothiocyanate, whereas mammalian TRPA1 inhibitors, ruthenium red, and camphor, reversibly blocked heat activation of Painless. Our results demonstrate that Painless is a direct sensor for noxious heat in [START]Drosophila[END].
",18829951
1,7227,"Analysis of [START]Drosophila[END] TRPA1 reveals an ancient origin for human chemical nociception.
Chemical nociception, the detection of tissue-damaging chemicals, is important for animal survival and causes human pain and inflammation, but its evolutionary origins are largely unknown. Reactive electrophiles are a class of noxious compounds humans find pungent and irritating, such as allyl isothiocyanate (in wasabi) and acrolein (in cigarette smoke). Diverse animals, from insects to humans, find reactive electrophiles aversive, but whether this reflects conservation of an ancient sensory modality has been unclear. Here we identify the molecular basis of reactive electrophile detection in flies. We demonstrate that [START]Drosophila[END] TRPA1 (Transient receptor potential A1), the [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] orthologue of the human irritant sensor, acts in gustatory chemosensors to inhibit reactive electrophile ingestion. We show that fly and mosquito TRPA1 orthologues are molecular sensors of electrophiles, using a mechanism conserved with vertebrate TRPA1s. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that invertebrate and vertebrate TRPA1s share a common ancestor that possessed critical characteristics required for electrophile detection. These findings support emergence of TRPA1-based electrophile detection in a common bilaterian ancestor, with widespread conservation throughout vertebrate and invertebrate evolution. Such conservation contrasts with the evolutionary divergence of canonical olfactory and gustatory receptors and may relate to electrophile toxicity. We propose that human pain perception relies on an ancient chemical sensor conserved across approximately 500 million years of animal evolution.
",20237474
1,64459,"Identification, Characterization and Expression Analysis of TRP Channel Genes in the Vegetable Pest, [START]Pieris rapae[END].
Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are critical for insects to detect environmental stimuli and regulate homeostasis. Moreover, this superfamily has become potential molecular targets for insecticides or repellents. [START]Pieris rapae[END] is one of the most common and widely spread pests of Brassicaceae plants. Therefore, it is necessary to study TRP channels (TRPs) in [START]P. rapae[END]. In this study, we identified 14 TRPs in [START]P. rapae[END], including two Water witch (Wtrw) genes. By contrast, only one Wtrw gene exists in Drosophila and functions in hygrosensation. We also found splice isoforms of Pyrexia (Pyx), TRPgamma (TRPgamma) and TRP-Melastatin (TRPM). These three genes are related to temperature and gravity sensation, fine motor control, homeostasis regulation of Mg2+ and Zn2+ in Drosophila, respectively. Evolutionary analysis showed that the TRPs of [START]P. rapae[END] were well clustered into their own subfamilies. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) showed that PrTRPs were widely distributed in the external sensory organs, including antennae, mouthparts, legs, wings and in the internal physiological organs, including brains, fat bodies, guts, Malpighian tubules, ovaries, as well as testis. Our study established a solid foundation for functional studies of TRP channels in [START]P. rapae[END], and would be benefit to developing new approaches to control [START]P. rapae[END] targeting these important ion channels.
",32197450
1,7227,"Identification, Characterization and Expression Analysis of TRP Channel Genes in the Vegetable Pest, Pieris rapae.
Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are critical for insects to detect environmental stimuli and regulate homeostasis. Moreover, this superfamily has become potential molecular targets for insecticides or repellents. Pieris rapae is one of the most common and widely spread pests of Brassicaceae plants. Therefore, it is necessary to study TRP channels (TRPs) in P. rapae. In this study, we identified 14 TRPs in P. rapae, including two Water witch (Wtrw) genes. By contrast, only one Wtrw gene exists in [START]Drosophila[END] and functions in hygrosensation. We also found splice isoforms of Pyrexia (Pyx), TRPgamma (TRPgamma) and TRP-Melastatin (TRPM). These three genes are related to temperature and gravity sensation, fine motor control, homeostasis regulation of Mg2+ and Zn2+ in [START]Drosophila[END], respectively. Evolutionary analysis showed that the TRPs of P. rapae were well clustered into their own subfamilies. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) showed that PrTRPs were widely distributed in the external sensory organs, including antennae, mouthparts, legs, wings and in the internal physiological organs, including brains, fat bodies, guts, Malpighian tubules, ovaries, as well as testis. Our study established a solid foundation for functional studies of TRP channels in P. rapae, and would be benefit to developing new approaches to control P. rapae targeting these important ion channels.
",32197450
1,7460,"Heat Perception and Aversive Learning in [START]Honey Bees[END]: Putative Involvement of the Thermal/Chemical Sensor AmHsTRPA.
The recent development of the olfactory conditioning of the sting extension response (SER) has provided new insights into the mechanisms of aversive learning in [START]honeybees[END]. Until now, very little information has been gained concerning US detection and perception. In the initial version of SER conditioning, [START]bees[END] learned to associate an odor CS with an electric shock US. Recently, we proposed a modified version of SER conditioning, in which thermal stimulation with a heated probe is used as US. This procedure has the advantage of allowing topical US applications virtually everywhere on the [START]honeybee[END] body. In this study, we made use of this possibility and mapped thermal responsiveness on the [START]honeybee[END] body, by measuring workers' SER after applying heat on 41 different structures. We then show that [START]bees[END] can learn the CS-US association even when the heat US is applied on body structures that are not prominent sensory organs, here the vertex (back of the head) and the ventral abdomen. Next, we used a neuropharmalogical approach to evaluate the potential role of a recently described Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channel, HsTRPA, on peripheral heat detection by [START]bees[END]. First, we applied HsTRPA activators to assess if such activation is sufficient for triggering SER. Second, we injected HsTRPA inhibitors to ask whether interfering with this TRP channel affects SER triggered by heat. These experiments suggest that HsTRPA may be involved in heat detection by [START]bees[END], and represent a potential peripheral detection system in thermal SER conditioning. 
",26635613
0,36668,"Mating behaviour in a slave-making [START]ant[END], Rossomyrmex minuchae (Hymenoptera, [START]Formicidae[END]).
The mating behaviour of the [START]ant[END] Rossomyrmex minuchae, a rare, protected slave-making species in Spain, seems to be significantly affected by its particular life history and patchy habitat. The mating behaviour of the entire genus Rossomyrmex is virtually unknown. We present here the results of a 3-year study of mating behaviour in R. minuchae.Behavioural observations and limited nest excavations revealed that R. minuchae does not produce sexuals every year, the number of sexuals is low, and the sex ratio tends to be female biased. Females typically exhibit two distinct activity periods. The first, the mating period, takes place in early afternoon: the ants ""call"" near the natal nest, mate and then return to their nest. The second, the dispersal period takes place in late afternoon: the mated females exit their nest and fly in search of a new, non-parasitized Proformica longiseta host nest. Males are highly active during the mating period, but will remain inactive in the dispersal period even if experimentally presented with virgin females. It appears that females are monogamous, while males are polygamous. When males are late arriving at the female calling site, the females will frequently congregate presumably calling in chorus. The low reproductive efficiency exhibited by R. minuchae, coupled with the postulated low genetic variation in the population, as sisters may mate with the same male, could result in a low survival rate and risk of eventual extinction. The observed decrease in nest density we observed during the 2004 season may be indicative of such a process.
",15864511
0,36668,"Effect of particulate contamination on adhesive ability and repellence in two species of ant (Hymenoptera; [START]Formicidae[END]).
Tarsal adhesive pads are crucial for the ability of insects to traverse their natural environment. Previous studies have demonstrated that for both hairy and smooth adhesive pads, significant reduction in adhesion can occur because of contamination of these pads by wax crystals present on plant surfaces or synthetic microspheres. In this paper, we focus on the smooth adhesive pads of ants and study systematically how particulate contamination and the subsequent loss of adhesion depends on particle size, particle surface energy, humidity and species size. To this end, workers of ant species Polyrhachis dives and Myrmica scabrinodis (Hymenoptera; [START]Formicidae[END]) were presented with loose synthetic powder barriers with a range of powder diameters (1-500 mum) and surface energies (PTFE or glass), which they would have to cross in order to escape the experimental arena. The barrier experiments were conducted for a range of humidities (10-70%). Experimental results and scanning electron microscopy confirm that particulate powders adversely affect the adhesive ability of both species of ant on smooth substrates via contamination of the arolia. Specifically, the loss of adhesion was found to depend strongly on particle diameter, but only weakly on particle type, with the greatest loss occurring for particle diameters smaller than the claw dimensions of each species, and no effect of humidity was found. We also observed that ants were repelled by the powder barriers which led to a decrease of adhesion prior to their eventual crossing, suggesting that insect antennae may play a role in probing the mechanical fragility of substrates before crossing them.
",22279067
0,36668,"Effect of gland extracts on digging and residing preferences of red imported fire ant workers (Hymenoptera: [START]Formicidae[END]).
There is evidence that ant-derived chemical stimuli are involved in regulating the digging behavior in Solenopsis invicta Buren. However, the source gland(s) and chemistry of such stimuli have never been revealed. In this study, extracts of mandibular, Dufour's, postpharyngeal, and poison glands were evaluated for their effect on ant digging and residing preferences of S. invicta workers from three colonies. In the intracolonial bioassays, workers showed significant digging preferences to mandibular gland extracts in 2 of 3 colonies and significant residing preferences in 1 of 3 colonies; significant digging preferences to Dufour's gland extracts in 1 of 3 colonies and significant residing preferences in 2 of 3 colonies. No digging and residing preferences were found for postpharyngeal and poison gland extracts. In intercolonial bioassays, significant digging and residing preferences were found for mandibular gland extracts in 3 of 6 colony combinations. Significant digging preferences to Dufour's gland extracts were found in 4 of 6 colony combinations and significant residing preferences in all 6 colony combinations. For postpharyngeal gland extracts, significant digging preferences were found only in 1 of 6 colonial combinations and no significant residing preferences were found. For poison gland extracts, no significant digging preferences were found; significant residing preferences were found in 1 of 6 colony combinations. However, a significant residing deterrence (negative residing preference index) was found for 2 of 6 colony combinations. Statistical analyses using data pooled from all colonies showed that mandibular and Dufour's gland extracts caused significant digging and residing preferences in both intracolonial and intercolonial bioassays but not postpharyngeal and poison gland extracts. By analyzing the data pooled from the same three colonies used for gland extract bioassays, it was found that, in no cases, workers showed significant digging and residing preferences to 2-ethyl-3,6-dimethylpyrazine, an alarm pheromone component from mandibular gland.
",23955941
0,36668,"Effects of a juvenile hormone analogue pyriproxyfen on monogynous and polygynous colonies of the Pharaoh ant Monomorium pharaonis (Hymenoptera: [START]Formicidae[END]).
To evaluate the effects of the juvenile hormone analogue pyriproxyfen on colonies of the Pharaoh ant Monomorium pharaonis (L.), peanut oil containing different concentrations (0.3, 0.6, or 0.9%) of pyriproxyfen was fed to monogynous (1 queen, 500 workers, and 0.1 g of brood) and polygynous (8 queens, 50 workers, and 0.1 g of brood) laboratory colonies of M. pharaonis. Due to its delayed activity, pyriproxyfen at all concentrations resulted in colony elimination. Significant reductions in brood volume were recorded at weeks 3 - 6, and complete brood mortality was observed at week 8 in all treated colonies. Brood mortality was attributed to the disruption of brood development and cessation of egg production by queens. All polygynous colonies exhibited significant reduction in the number of queens present at week 10 compared to week 1. Number of workers was significantly lower in all treated colonies compared to control colonies at week 8 due to old-age attrition of the workers without replacement. At least 98.67 +- 1.33% of workers were dead at week 10 in all treated colonies. Thus, treatment with slow acting pyriproxyfen at concentrations of 0.3 - 0.9% is an effective strategy for eliminating Pharaoh ant colonies. 
",26695205
0,36668,"Microsatellite genotyping of red imported fire ant (Hymenoptera: [START]Formicidae[END]) colonies reveals that most colonies persist in plowed pastures.
Our study focused on colony dynamics of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: [START]Formicidae[END]), in relation to the standard practice of planting rye grass (i.e., plowing) in the fall in Louisiana. Microsatellite molecular markers were used to determine genotypes of individuals from red imported fire ant colonies. These markers allowed us to monitor treatment effect by detecting changes in number and location of colonies in response to disking of pasture plots. Previous research on mound disturbance as a form of cultural control in pastures has produced mixed results. We found that the majority of colonies persisted on plots after plowing. Mound density and mound area, 5 mo after plowing, were not significantly different among treatments. In contrast, April measurements of mound volume were significantly smaller on plowed plots compared with control plots. A closer look at the rebuilding of mounds on plowed plots, during the 5 mo, showed that mound heights stayed below pretreatment measurements and they were significantly smaller than those of undisturbed mounds. Whether plowing has potential for use as a cultural control technique in reducing the impact of red imported fire ant mounds on agricultural practices in pastures remains to be seen. Conceivably, the best application of this technique will be in combination with other control measures in an integrated pest management approach to control red imported fire ants in pastures.
",18767710
0,36668,"Incomplete homogenization of chemical recognition labels between Formica sanguinea and Formica rufa ants (Hymenoptera: [START]Formicidae[END]) living in a mixed colony.
Formica sanguinea Latreille (Hymenoptera: [START]Formicidae[END]) is a slave-making species, i.e., it raids colonies of host species and pillages pupae, which are taken to develop into adult workers in a parasite colony. However, it has been unclear if the coexistence of F. sanguinea with slave workers requires uniformity of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), among which those other than n-alkanes are believed to be the principal nestmate recognition cues utilized by ants. In this study, a mixed colony (MC) of F. sanguinea and Formica rufa L. as a slave species was used to test the hypothesis that CHCs are exchanged between the species. Chemical analysis of hexane extracts from ants' body surfaces provided evidence for interspecific exchange of alkenes and methyl-branched alkanes. This result was confirmed by behavioral tests during which ants exhibited hostility toward conspecific individuals from the MC but not toward ones from homospecific colonies of their own species. However, it seems that species-specific differences in chemical recognition labels were not eliminated completely because ants from the MC were treated differently depending on whether they were con- or allospecific to the individuals whose behavioral reactions were tested. These findings are discussed in the context of mechanisms of colony's odor formation and effective integration of slaves into parasite colony. 
",25502026
0,36668,"Rediscovery of the rare ant genus Bannapone (Hymenoptera: [START]Formicidae[END]: Amblyoponinae) and description of the worker caste.
The genus Bannapone was described in 2000 on the basis of a single dealate queen specimen. Since its original collection in Yunnan, China, no other specimen has been reported, making it one of the rarest ant genera in the world. Here we report the collection of two workers of Bannapone also from Yunnan province. The description of the worker caste is presented. Furthermore, we found significant differences with the described B. mulanae Xu, 2000 which leads us to describe the workers as a new species, B. scrobiceps n. sp.. Finally, we briefly discuss the importance of leaf-litter collection methods to collect taxa considered as ""rare"". 
",25277919
0,36668,"A descriptive morphology of the ant genus Procryptocerus (Hymenoptera: [START]Formicidae[END]).
Morphology is the most direct approach biologists have to recognize uniqueness of insect species as compared to close relatives. Ants of the genus Procryptocerus possess important morphologic characters yet have not been explored for use in a taxonomic revision. The genus is characterized by the protrusion of the clypeus forming a broad nasus and antennal scrobes over the eyes. The toruli are located right posterior to the flanks of the nasus opposite to each other. The vertex is deflexed posteriorly in most species. An in-group comparison of the external morphology is presented focusing on the workers. A general morphology for gynes and males is also presented. Previously mentioned characters as well as new ones are presented, and their character states in different species are clarified. For the metasoma a new system of ant metasomal somite nomenclature is presented that is applicable to Aculeata in general. Finally, a Glossary of morphological terms is offered for the genus (available online). Most of the terminology can be used in other members of the [START]Formicidae[END] and Aculeata.
",20874568
0,36668,"The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: [START]Formicidae[END]).
Ten new sub-Saharan species of the ant genus Polyrhachis are described: P. gibbula n. sp. and P. omissa n. sp. belonging in the viscosa-group; P. brevipilosa n. sp., P. dubia n. sp., P. longiseta n. sp., P. luteipes n. sp., P. submarginata n. sp., and P. terminata n. sp. in the revoili-group; P. doudou n. sp. and P. fisheri n. sp. in the militaris-group. Also, P. epinotalis Santschi and P. kohli Forel are revived from synonymy with P. militaris (Fabr.) and P. volkarti Forel respectively. The type of P. cubaensis Mayr is described, changing the interpretation of the taxon and revalidating two of its synonyms, P. gerstaeckeri Forel and P. wilmsi Forel stat. n.. The examination of the type of Polyrhachis revoili Andre has proved this taxon to be different from previous interpretations; its position is reviewed and all of its synonyms are transferred to P. weissi Santschi. In addition, the first description of the worker of P. andrei Emery is provided, as well as some new records and taxonomic and morphological notes concerning other species. Finally, a synonymic list of the 61 currently known sub-Saharan species, a key to species-groups and an updated key to the workers are given. 
",27394324
0,36668,"Morphophysiological differences between the metapleural glands of fungus-growing and non-fungus-growing ants (Hymenoptera, [START]Formicidae[END]).
The metapleural gland is an organ exclusive to ants. Its main role is to produce secretions that inhibit the proliferation of different types of pathogens. The aim of the present study was to examine the morphophysiological differences between the metapleural gland of 3 non-fungus-growing ants of the tribes Ectatommini, Myrmicini, and Blepharidattini and that of 5 fungus-growing ants from 2 basal and 3 derived attine genera. The metapleural gland of the non-fungus-growing ants and the basal attine ants has fewer secretory cells than that of the derived attine ants (leaf-cutting ants). In addition, the metapleural gland of the latter had more clusters of secretory cells and sieve plates, indicating a greater storage capacity and demand for secretion in these more advanced farming ants. The glands of the derived attine ants also produced higher levels of polysaccharides and acidic lipids than those of Myrmicini, Blepharidattini, and basal attines. Our results confirm morphophysiological differences between the metapleural glands of the derived attines and those of the basal attines and non-fungus-growing ants, suggesting that the metapleural glands of the derived attines (leaf-cutting ants) are more developed in morphology and physiology, with enhanced secretion production (acidic lipids and protein) to protect against the proliferation of unwanted fungi and bacteria in the fungal garden, it is possible that leaf-cutting ants may have evolved more developed metapleural glands in response to stronger pressure from parasites.
",22927993
0,50557,"[Nymphal feeding of Leptophlebiidae ([START]Insecta[END]: Ephemeroptera) in the Cano Paso del Diablo, Venezuela].
The food habits of aquatic nymphs of 12 species of the family Leptophlebiidae were determined in a tropical intermittent stream in Venezuela. Three monthly samples of aquatic [START]insects[END] were taken from January to June in 1989. Two hundred and twenty-five stomach contents were analyzed. The results obtained were compared by the functional feeding groups classification. Species of the Thraulodes and Farrodes genera show significant differences in their diets.
",12189832
0,50557,"Feces production as a form of social immunity in an [START]insect[END] with facultative maternal care.
BACKGROUND: Social animals have the unique capability of mounting social defenses against pathogens. Over the last decades, social immunity has been extensively studied in species with obligatory and permanent forms of social life. However, its occurrence in less derived social systems and thus its role in the early evolution of group-living remains unclear. Here, we investigated whether lining nests with feces is a form of social immunity against microbial growth in the European earwig Forficula auricularia, an [START]insect[END] with temporary family life and facultative maternal care. RESULTS: Using a total of 415 inhibition zone assays, we showed that earwig feces inhibit the growth of two GRAM+ bacteria, two fungi, but not of a GRAM- bacteria. These inhibitions did not result from the consumed food or the nesting environment. We then demonstrated that the antimicrobial activity against fungus was higher in offspring than maternal feces, but that this difference was absent against bacteria. Finally, we showed that family interactions inhibited the antibacterial activity of maternal feces against one of the two GRAM+ bacteria, whereas it had no effect on the one of nymphal feces. By contrast, antifungal activities of the feces were independent of mother-offspring interactions. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that social immunity occurs in a species with simple and facultative social life, and thus shed light on the general importance of this process in the evolution of group-living. These results also emphasize that defecation can be under selection for other life-history traits than simple waste disposal.
",25888183
0,50557,"The earliest known holometabolous [START]insects[END].
The Eumetabola (Endopterygota (also known as Holometabola) plus Paraneoptera) have the highest number of species of any clade, and greatly contribute to animal species biodiversity. The palaeoecological circumstances that favoured their emergence and success remain an intriguing question. Recent molecular phylogenetic analyses have suggested a wide range of dates for the initial appearance of the Holometabola, from the Middle Devonian epoch (391 million years (Myr) ago) to the Late Pennsylvanian epoch (311 Myr ago), and Hemiptera (310 Myr ago). Palaeoenvironments greatly changed over these periods, with global cooling and increasing complexity of green forests. The Pennsylvanian-period crown-eumetabolan fossil record remains notably incomplete, particularly as several fossils have been erroneously considered to be stem Holometabola (Supplementary Information); the earliest definitive beetles are from the start of the Permian period. The emergence of the hymenopterids, sister group to other Holometabola, is dated between 350 and 309 Myr ago, incongruent with their current earliest record (Middle Triassic epoch). Here we describe five fossils--a Gzhelian-age stem coleopterid, a holometabolous larva of uncertain ordinal affinity, a stem hymenopterid, and early Hemiptera and Psocodea, all from the Moscovian age--and reveal a notable penecontemporaneous breadth of early eumetabolan [START]insects[END]. These discoveries are more congruent with current hypotheses of clade divergence. Eumetabola experienced episodes of diversification during the Bashkirian-Moscovian and the Kasimovian-Gzhelian ages. This cladogenetic activity is perhaps related to notable episodes of drying resulting from glaciations, leading to the eventual demise in Euramerica of coal-swamp ecosystems, evidenced by floral turnover during this interval. These ancient species were of very small size, living in the shadow of Palaeozoic-era 'giant' [START]insects[END]. Although these discoveries reveal unexpected Pennsylvanian eumetabolan diversity, the lineage radiated more successfully only after the mass extinctions at the end of the Permian period, giving rise to the familiar crown groups of their respective clades.
",24132233
0,50557,"Metabolic scaling in [START]insects[END] supports the predictions of the WBE model.
The functional association between body size and metabolic rate (BS-MR) is one of the most intriguing issues in ecological physiology. An average scaling exponent of 3/4 is broadly observed across animal and plant taxa. The numerical value of 3/4 is theoretically predicted under the optimized version of West, Brown, and Enquist's vascular resource supply network model. [START]Insects[END], however, have recently been proposed to express a numerically different scaling exponent and thus application of the WBE network model to [START]insects[END] has been rejected. Here, we re-analyze whether such variation is indeed supported by a global deviation across all [START]insect[END] taxa at the order and family levels to assess if specific taxa influence [START]insect[END] metabolic scaling. We show that a previous reported deviation is largely due to the effect of a single [START]insect[END] family (Termitidae). We conclude that the BS-MR relationship in [START]insects[END] broadly supports the core predictions of the WBE model. We suggest that the deviation observed within the termites warrants further investigation and may be due to either difficulty in accurately measuring termite metabolism and/or particularities of their life history. Future work on allometric scaling should assess the nature of variation around the central tendencies in scaling exponents in order to test if this variation is consistent with core assumptions and predictions of the WBE model that stem by relaxing its secondary optimizing assumptions that lead to the 3/4 exponent.
",21296084
0,50557,"Developmental basis for vein pattern variations in [START]insect[END] wings.
The venation patterns characteristics of different [START]insect[END] orders and of families belonging to the same order possess enormous variation in vein number, position and differentiation. Although the developmental basis of changes in vein patterns during evolution is entirely unknown, the identification of the genes and developmental processes involved in Drosophila vein pattern formation facilitates the elaboration of construction rules. It is thus possible to identify the likely changes which may constitute a source of pattern variation during evolution. In this review, we discuss how actual patterns of venation could be accounted for by modifications in different Pterygota of a common set of developmental operations. We argue that the individual specification of each vein and the modular structure of the regulatory regions of the key genes identified in Drosophila offer candidate entry points for pattern modifications affecting individual veins or interveins independently. Assuming a general conservation of the processes involved in different species, the transitions between different patterns may require few changes in the regulatory gene networks involved.
",14756341
0,50557,"Embryonic development of Galloisiana yuasai Asahina, with special reference to external morphology ([START]insecta[END]: Grylloblattodea).
The embryogenesis of Grylloblattodea, one of the most primitive of the polyneopteran orders, is described using Galloisiana yuasai with special reference to external morphology. The egg membranes are characterized by an endochorion crossed by numerous vertical aeropyles and a fairly thin vitelline membrane, features shared by Mantophasmatodea. The inner layer formation is of the fault type. Serosal elements in the amnioserosal fold differentiate into hydropylar cells, to function in water absorption together with specialized amniotic structures, i.e., an amniotic strand and a thickened amnion. The germ band is of the short germ type. The germ band immerses deep into the yolk after its full elongation along the egg surface, and in this respect blastokinesis closely resembles that of Mantophasmatodea. The embryological features, i.e., those on egg membranes and blastokinesis, may suggest a closer affinity of Grylloblattodea and Mantophasmatodea. Appendages, ectodermal invaginations, and sternal and pleural sclerites are discussed in the light of serial homology, to provide a new basis for elucidating the [START]insect[END] body plan. Appendages are divided into the proximal coxopodite and distal telopodite, the former being divided further into the subcoxa and coxa. Subcoxal and coxal elements are identified in the mandible as well as in the abdominal appendages. The subcoxa is divided into the epimeron and episternum by the pleural suture in thoracic segments. Likewise, in the abdominal segments the subcoxa is divided into two, although the homologs of the epimeron and episternum are not sclerotized, and in the labial segment the subcoxal derivative or the postmentum is divided into the submentum and mentum. Two coxal endites bulge out from the medial side of the gnathal appendages. The mandibular molar and incisor, maxillary lacinia and galea, and labial glossa and paraglossa are serially homologous with each other. In the thoracic segments the original embryonic sternum or ""protosternum"" is largely replaced by subcoxal elements, and merely remains as a small anterior presternum and a posterior spinasternum. A major part of the venter is represented by the derivatives of the episternum such as an extensive basisternum, katepisternum, and trochantin and the medial element of the epimeron. The pleuron is derived from the episternal elements or the anepisternum and preepisternum, which bears a spiracle in the mesothorax and metathorax, and the lateral element of the epimeron. The homolog of the preepisternum in the prothorax is the cervical sclerite, but with no spiracle developed. A median ventral invagination arises in the thoracic segments as a spina, and the homolog of the spina develops into the eversible sac in the first abdominal segment.
",16155878
0,50557,"Revision of Chinese Dilaridae ([START]Insecta[END]: Neuroptera) (Part I): species of the genus Dilar Rambur from northern China.
The pleasing lacewing genus Dilar Rambur is a dominant group of the family Dilaridae in Asia and is diverse in China with 18 described species. Herein we record five species of Dilar. Three species, i.e. Dilar hastatus sp.nov., Dilar spectabilis sp.nov. and Dilar taibaishanus sp.nov. are described as new to science. Dilar sinicus Nakahara and Dilar septentrionalis Navas are also redescribed. A key to the species of Dilar from northern China is given.  
",24872276
0,50557,"Evolution of [START]insect[END] wings and development - new details from Palaeozoic nymphs.
The nymphal stages of Palaeozoic [START]insects[END] differ significantly in morphology from those of their modern counterparts. Morphological details for some previously reported species have recently been called into question. Palaeozoic [START]insect[END] nymphs are important, however - their study could provide key insights into the evolution of wings, and complete metamorphosis. Here we review past work on these topics and juvenile [START]insects[END] in the fossil record, and then present both novel and previously described nymphs, documented using new imaging methods. Our results demonstrate that some Carboniferous nymphs - those of Palaeodictyopteroidea - possessed movable wing pads and appear to have been able to perform simple flapping flight. It remains unclear whether this feature is ancestral for Pterygota or an autapomorphy of Palaeodictyopteroidea. Further characters of nymphal development which were probably in the ground pattern of Pterygota can be reconstructed. Wing development was very gradual (archimetaboly). Wing pads did not protrude from the tergum postero-laterally as in most modern nymphs, but laterally, and had well-developed venation. The modern orientation of wing pads and the delay of wing development into later developmental stages (condensation) appears to have evolved several times independently within Pterygota: in Ephemeroptera, Odonatoptera, Eumetabola, and probably several times within Polyneoptera. Selective pressure appears to have favoured a more pronounced metamorphosis between the last nymphal and adult stage, ultimately reducing exploitation competition between the two. We caution, however, that the results presented herein remain preliminary, and the reconstructed evolutionary scenario contains gaps and uncertainties. Additional comparative data need to be collected. The present study is thus seen as a starting point for this enterprise. 
",25400084
0,50557,"Three new caddisflies species of the fossil genus Archaeotinodes ([START]Insecta[END]: Trichoptera: Ecnomidae) from the Baltic Amber.
Three new caddisflies species of the fossil genus Archaeotinodes: Archaeotinodes petropolitana sp. nov., Archaeotinodes regiomontana sp. nov., and Archaeotinodes rossica sp. nov. from the Baltic amber (Upper Eocene, 40 million years old), are described and illustrated.
",26097947
0,50557,"Magnetic resonance imaging in entomology: a critical review.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables in vivo imaging of organisms. The recent development of the magnetic resonance microscope (MRM) has enabled organisms within the size range of many [START]insects[END] to be imaged. Here, we introduce the principles of MRI and MRM and review their use in entomology. We show that MRM has been successfully applied in studies of parasitology, development, metabolism, biomagnetism and morphology, and the advantages and disadvantages relative to other imaging techniques are discussed. In addition, we illustrate the images that can be obtained using MRM. We conclude that although MRM has significant potential, further improvements to the technique are still desirable if it is to become a mainstream imaging technology in entomology.
",15841222
0,6978,"Myofilaments promote wing expansion and maintain genitalia morphology in the [START]American cockroach[END], [START]Periplaneta americana[END].
Insects are the most widely distributed and successful animals on the planet. A large number of insects are capable of flight with functional wings. Wing expansion is an important process for insects to achieve functional wings after eclosion and healthy genital morphology is crucial for adult reproduction. Myofilaments are functional units that constitute sarcomeres and trigger muscle contraction. Here, we identified four myofilament proteins, including Myosin, Paramyosin, Tropomyosin and Troponin T, from the wing pads of nymphs in the [START]American cockroach[END], [START]Periplaneta americana[END]. RNAi-mediated knockdown of Myosin, Paramyosin, Tropomyosin and Troponin T in the early stage of final instar nymphs caused a severely curly wing phenotype in the imaginal molt, especially in the Paramyosin and Troponin T knockdown groups, indicating that these myofilament proteins are involved in controlling wing expansion behaviors during the nymph-adult transition. In addition, the knockdown resulted in abnormal external genitalia, caused ovulation failure and affected male accessory gland development. Interestingly, the expression of myofilament genes was induced by methoprene, a juvenile hormone (JH) analog, and decreased by the depletion of the JH receptor gene Met. Altogether, we have determined that myofilament genes play an important role in promoting wing expansion and maintaining adult genitalia morphology, and their expression is induced by juvenile hormone signaling. Our data reveals a novel mechanism by which wing expansion is regulated by myofilaments and the functions of myofilaments are involved in maintaining genitalia morphology. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
",36214335
0,6978,"Serotonin-immunoreactive sensory neurons in the antenna of the cockroach [START]Periplaneta americana[END].
The antennae of insects contain a vast array of sensory neurons that process olfactory, gustatory, mechanosensory, hygrosensory, and thermosensory information. Except those with multimodal functions, most sensory neurons use acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter. Using immunohistochemistry combined with retrograde staining of antennal sensory neurons in the cockroach [START]Periplaneta americana[END], we found serotonin-immunoreactive sensory neurons in the antenna. These were selectively distributed in chaetic and scolopidial sensilla and in the scape, the pedicel, and first 15 segments of the flagellum. In a chaetic sensillum, A single serotonin-immunoreactive sensory neuron cohabited with up to four serotonin-negative sensory neurons. Based on their morphological features, serotonin-immunopositive and -negative sensory neurons might process mechanosensory and contact chemosensory modalities, respectively. Scolopidial sensilla constitute the chordotonal and Johnston's organs within the pedicel and process antennal vibrations. Immunoelectron microscopy clearly revealed that serotonin-immunoreactivities selectively localize to a specific type of mechanosensory neuron, called type 1 sensory neuron. In a chordotonal scolopidial sensillum, a serotonin-immunoreactive type 1 neuron always paired with a serotonin-negative type 1 neuron. Conversely, serotonin-immunopositive and -negative type 1 neurons were randomly distributed in Johnston's organ. In the deutocerebrum, serotonin-immunoreactive sensory neuron axons formed three different sensory tracts and those from distinct types of sensilla terminated in distinct brain regions. Our findings indicate that a biogenic amine, serotonin, may act as a neurotransmitter in peripheral mechanosensory neurons.
",23852943
0,6978,"Selective actions of insecticides on desensitizing and non-desensitizing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in cockroach ([START]Periplaneta americana[END]) neurons.
BACKGROUND: Insect desensitizing nicotinic acetylcholine (nAChD) receptors are desensitized by low concentrations of agonists, including neonicotinoid insecticides, but are essentially insensitive to spinosyns, while non-desensitizing nicotinic acetylcholine (nAChN) receptors are selectively activated by spinosyns and relatively insensitive to neonicotinoids. RESULTS: The single-electrode voltage-clamp technique was used to measure the actions of newer nicotinic insecticides dinotefuran, sulfoxaflor, triflumezopyrim, spinetoram and GS-omega/k-hexatoxin-Hv1a on cockroach neuronal nAChD and nAChN currents. Like imidacloprid and clothianidin, newer orthosteric nicotinic agonist insecticides dinotefuran and sulfoxaflor act by desensitizing nAChD receptors. The mesoionic insecticide triflumezopyrim selectively inhibited nAChD current with an half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50 ) of 1.2 nmol L-1 , with no activation. Unlike other Group 4 insecticides, it did not activate nAChN current, but inhibited it with an IC50 of 3.8 mumol L-1 , indicating that the compound is a true antagonist. Spinosad and the spinosyn-derived insecticide spinetoram potently and selectively activated nAChN receptors. GS-omega/k-hexatoxin-Hv1a had no effect on nAChN currents and it had a complex action on nAChD currents, inhibiting at sub-nanomolar concentrations and causing some activation and enhancement of ACh-evoked currents at 30 nmol L-1 and above. Some cells express GS-omega/k-hexatoxin-Hv1a-resistant nAChD receptors. CONCLUSIONS: Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor competitive modulators (IRAC Group 4) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor allosteric modulators, site II (hexatoxins, IRAC Group 32) are selective for nAChD receptors, while nicotinic acetylcholine receptor allosteric modulators, site I (spinosyns, IRAC Group 5) are selective for nAChN receptors. It is proposed that IRAC Groups 5 and 32 be re-named non-desensitizing nicotinic acetylcholine receptor allosteric modulators and desensitizing nicotinic acetylcholine receptor allosteric modulators, respectively.   2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
",33821538
0,6978,"Characterization of a chemostable serine alkaline protease from [START]Periplaneta americana[END].
BACKGROUND: Proteases are important enzymes involved in numerous essential physiological processes and hold a strong potential for industrial applications. The proteolytic activity of insects' gut is endowed by many isoforms with diverse properties and specificities. Thus, insect proteases can act as a tool in industrial processes. RESULTS: In the present study, purification and properties of a serine alkaline protease from [START]Periplaneta americana[END] and its potential application as an additive in various bio-formulations are reported. The enzyme was purified near to homogeneity by using acetone precipitation and Sephadex G-100 gel filtration chromatography. Enzyme activity was increased up to 4.2 fold after gel filtration chromatography. The purified enzyme appeared as single protein-band with a molecular mass of ~ 27.8 kDa in SDS-PAGE. The optimum pH and temperature for the proteolytic activity for purified protein were found around pH 8.0 and 60 C respectively. Complete inhibition of the purified enzyme by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride confirmed that the protease was of serine-type. The purified enzyme revealed high stability and compatibility towards detergents, oxidizing, reducing, and bleaching agents. In addition, enzyme also showed stability towards organic solvents and commercial detergents. CONCLUSION: Several important properties of a serine protease from [START]P. Americana[END] were revealed. Moreover, insects can serve as excellent and alternative source of industrially important proteases with unique properties, which can be utilized as additives in detergents, stain removers and other bio-formulations. Properties of the [START]P. americana[END] protease accounted in the present investigation can be exploited further in various industrial processes. As an industrial prospective, identification of enzymes with varying essential properties from different insect species might be good approach and bioresource.
",24229392
0,6978,"Periplanetols A-F, phenolic compounds from [START]Periplaneta americana[END] with potent COX-2 inhibitory activity.
Six new compounds, periplanetols A - F (1-4, 6 and 7), a compound isolated from natural origin for the first time (5), and nine known ones (8-16) were isolated from the 70% ethanol extract of the whole bodies of [START]Periplaneta americana[END]. Their structures including absolute configurations were unambiguously identified by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses and computational methods. Biological evaluation toward COX-2 inhibition revealed that compounds 1, 2, and 10 could inhibit COX-2 activity with the IC50 values of 768.0 nM, 617.7 nM, and 599.5 nM respectively, indicating their potential in developping novel agents against inflammation related disorders.
",32272163
0,6978,"The role of the [START]American cockroach[END] ([START]Periplaneta americana[END]) as transport host of Eimeria tenella to chickens.
The role of the [START]American cockroach[END], [START]Periplaneta americana[END] as transport host for Eimeria tenella was evaluated. Twenty-four cockroaches were orally fed with sporulated oocysts of E. tenella. Their feces and digestive tract were examined for oocysts by sugar centrifugal flotation technique and PCR. Infectivity of the oocysts recovered from the digestive tract of infected cockroaches as well as from their feces was evaluated by orally inoculating them into Boris Brown chickens. E. tenella oocysts were found in the digestive tract and feces of infected cockroaches up to day 4 after ingestion of oocysts. Furthermore, oocysts that were recovered from the digestive tract and feces of cockroaches remained infective for 4 and 3 days after ingestion of oocysts, respectively. Presence of oocysts in the feces of chicken that had been inoculated with either digestive tract or feces of [START]P. americana[END] demonstrated the infectivity of E. tenella oocysts from digestive tract or feces, suggesting that [START]P. americana[END] may play a role in the transmission of E. tenella among chicken and between chicken flocks.
",31093752
0,6978,"Polyphosphate polymers during early embryogenesis of [START]Periplaneta americana[END].
Inorganic polyphosphates (PolyP) are linear polymers of phosphate (Pi) residues linked by high-energy phosphoanhydride bonds. Despite a wide distribution, their role during insect embryogenesis has not been examined so far. In this study, we show the mobilization of PolyP polymers during the embryogenesis of the cockroach [START]Periplaneta americana[END]. PolyP was detected by enzymatic and fluorimetric assays and found to accumulate in two main sizes by agarose gel electrophoresis. Confocal microscopy showed their presence in small vesicles. In addition, X-ray microanalysis of small vesicles showed considerable amounts of calcium, sodium and magnesium, suggesting an association of PolyP with these elements. Variations of the free Ca+2, Pi and PolyP levels were observed during the first days of embryogenesis. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that phosphate ions modulate PolyP variation and that PolyP hydrolysis result in increasing free Ca+2 levels. This is the first investigation of PolyP metabolism during embryogenesis of an insect and might shed light on the mechanisms involving Pi storage and homeostasis during this period. We suggest that PolyP, mainly stored in small vesicles, might be involved in the functional control of Ca+2 and Pi homeostasis during early embryogenesis of [START]P. Americana[END].
",18773905
0,6978,"Improved genome assembly provides new insights into the environmental adaptation of the [START]American cockroach[END], [START]Periplaneta americana[END].
The synanthropic pest and a model organism for entomological research, [START]American cockroach[END], [START]Periplaneta americana[END] (Linnaeus), can survive in unfavorable environments for humans. To investigate the genetic mechanisms of success in environmental adaptation of [START]P. americana[END], we de novo reassembled its whole genome based on next-generation sequencing and PacBio sequencing. The final genome reassembly consisted of approximately 3.34 Gb with scaffold N50 of 465.51 Kb. The completeness (95.4%) of the complete genome was evaluated with single-copy orthologous genes using BUSCO. We identified 18,618 protein-coding genes, 16,443 (88.32%) of which were well supported by public protein databases. We identified 482.04 Mb (approximately 14.45%) repeat elements, 1,385,093 perfect microsatellites simple sequence repeats in [START]P. americana[END] genome, which was higher than other four Blattaria insects. Comparative genomics analysis revealed obvious expansion in the gene families associated with chemoreception (olfactory receptors, gustatory receptors, ionotropic glutamate receptors, chemosensory protein, and sensory neuron membrane protein), which provided the necessary information for functional characterization of the chemosensory receptors of [START]P. americana[END], with potential for new or refined applications of semiochemicals-based control of this pest insect. Similarly, gene families (cytochrome P450s, carboxyl/choline esterases, and UDP-glycosyl-transferases) encoding receptors for bitter or toxic substances and detoxification enzymes were obviously expanded in [START]P. americana[END], enabling its ability to detect and detoxify many toxins. Enrichment analysis of positively selected genes in [START]P. americana[END] revealed items associated with metabolic process and catalytic activity, which possibly contributed to the pesticide resistance of [START]P. americana[END]. We also analyzed the homologs to antimicrobial peptide genes reported in the Drosophila genome, and identified two attacins and seven defensins in [START]P. americana[END]. Our data and findings will substantially facilitate molecular studies in [START]P. americana[END], including elucidation of detoxification mechanisms of xenobiotic, as well as development of new pest management strategies for the control of pests like [START]P. americana[END].
",35933728
0,6978,"Assessment of dermal safety of oil extracted from [START]Periplaneta americana[END]: acute dermal toxicity, irritation, and sensitization.
INTRODUCTION: The [START]American cockroach[END] ([START]Periplaneta americana[END]) is used in traditional Chinese medicine. [START]Periplaneta americana[END] ([START]P. americana[END]) is rich in oil that has shown potential antioxidant and antibacterial activities in vitro. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety of oil extracted from [START]P. americana[END] by conducting acute dermal toxicity, irritation, and sensitization tests. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an acute dermal toxicity study, adult Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to [START]P. americana[END] oil (2000 mg/kg body weight) for 24 h. Clinical observations were conducted to evaluate the toxicity, behaviour, and health of the animals every day after dermal exposure for 14 days. For the dermal irritation test, the oil was applied to rabbits in single and multiple doses. Multi-dose treatment was administered once per day for 14 days. Each rabbit served as its own left- and right-side control and the rabbits' irritation reactions in local intact and damaged skin were recorded and scored. The skin sensitization study of guinea pigs with the oil was conducted for a period of 28 days. RESULTS: The acute dermal median lethal dose (LD50) of [START]P. americana[END] oil was > 2000 mg/kg body weight in adult rats. There was no significant difference in mean irritation scores between the negative control and oil groups. The oil caused very little or no irritation in the intact and damaged skin rabbits treated with either single or multiple doses and it was non-sensitizing to the skin of guinea pigs. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that [START]P. americana[END] oil does not produce any significant acute toxic effects and is safe for use in animal models with almost no dermal irritation or sensitization. Therefore, it presents a low risk of provoking skin reactions in humans.
",32406268
0,6978,"Environmental decomposition of olefinic cuticular hydrocarbons of [START]Periplaneta americana[END] generates a volatile pheromone that guides social behaviour.
Once emitted, semiochemicals are exposed to reactive environmental factors that may alter them, thus disrupting chemical communication. Some species, however, might have adapted to detect environmentally mediated breakdown products of their natural chemicals as semiochemicals. We demonstrate that air, water vapour and ultraviolet (UV) radiation break down unsaturated cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) of [START]Periplaneta americana[END] ([START]American cockroach[END]), resulting in the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In behavioural assays, nymphs strongly avoided aggregating in shelters exposed to the breakdown VOCs from cuticular alkenes. The three treatments (air, water vapour, UV) produced the same VOCs, but at different time-courses and ratios. Fourteen VOCs from UV-exposed CHCs elicited electrophysiological responses in nymph antennae; 10 were identified as 2-nonanone, 1-pentanol, 1-octanol, 1-nonanol, tetradecanal, acetic acid, propanoic acid, butanoic acid, pentanoic acid and hexanoic acid. When short-chain fatty acids were tested as a mix and a blend of the alcohols and aldehyde was tested as a second mix, nymphs exhibited no preference for control or treated shelters. However, nymphs avoided shelters that were exposed to VOCs from the complete 10-compound mix. Conditioned shelters (occupied by cockroaches with faeces and CHCs deposited on the shelters), which are normally highly attractive to nymphs, were also avoided after UV exposure, confirming that breakdown products from deposited metabolites, including CHCs, mediate this behaviour. Our results demonstrate that common environmental agents degrade CHCs into behaviourally active volatile compounds that potentially may serve as necromones or epideictic pheromones, mediating group dissolution.
",32097587
0,6978,"A composite hydrogel loading natural polysaccharides derived from [START]Periplaneta americana[END] herbal residue for diabetic wound healing.
In view of the long medicinal use history of [START]Periplaneta americana[END] for manifold ulcer or skin wounds treatment, the comprehensive utilization value of [START]P. americana[END] herbal residue was evaluated. In this study, we isolated a polysaccharide fraction from [START]P. americana[END] herbal residue with the potential wound healing effect, named as PAP faction, based on our previous study and provided the structural and monosaccharide composition characterization. To improve the topical wound dressing property, a novel composite hydrogel consisting of PAP, carbomer 940 (CBM), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) with different ratios were prepared and optimized. Mediated by the physical crosslinking effect among these polymers, the composite hydrogel exhibited good three-dimensional network structures, good swelling and water retention capacity, moderate mechanical property in rheological test. And then, the good cytocompatibility of hydrogel was corroborated by 3T3 fibroblast proliferation assay. Finally, the composite hydrogel loading PAP has been proved to accelerate wound healing in diabetic rat models, by promoting wound closure, collagen deposition, M2 macrophages polarization and angiogenesis. In summary, this study would provide an effective and promising wound dressing candidate for the prevention and treatment of diabetic wound, based on the ecological concept of the comprehensive utilization of natural herbal resources.
",32841667
0,6978,"N-containing compounds from [START]Periplaneta americana[END] and their activities against wound healing.
Three new compounds, periplanamides A (1) and B (2), periplanpyrazine A (3), a new naturally occurring compound salicyluric acid methyl ester (6), and seventeen known compounds were isolated from the medicinal insect [START]Periplaneta americana[END]. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods. The absolute configurations of 2 were assigned by computational methods. Biological activities of these isolates except 1, 9, 11, and 13 toward nitric oxide (NO) production, cell proliferation in HDFs, cell migration and angiogenesis in HUVECs were evaluated.
",29595067
0,6978,"Experimental infection of the cockroach [START]Periplaneta americana[END] with Toxocara canis and the establishment of patent infections in pups.
The possible role of the cockroach [START]Periplaneta americana[END] in the transmission of Toxocara canis eggs and larvae via faeces and tissue migration was studied. Cockroaches fed with 3 x 105 and 5 x 105 embryonated eggs were found to harbour viable eggs and larvae from days 1 to 5 post-infection (DPI). At necropsy on 5 DPI, eggs and larvae were also recovered from the rectal contents but not from the tissues of cockroaches. In addition patent infections were established in pups fed on infected faeces of cockroaches, with eggs first appearing in the faeces of pups at 38 DPI. Adult worms of T. canis were also recovered at necropsy. Therefore the importance of cockroaches as good mechanical disseminators of ascarid eggs, especially T. canis, is discussed.
",18053303
0,6978,"Actions of quinolizidine alkaloids on Periplaneta americana nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.
BACKGROUND: Botanical insecticides do not play a major role as crop protectants, but they are beneficial in some applications. The authors investigated the actions of naturally occurring alkaloids on insect nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors (nAChRs) by evaluating their abilities to inhibit specific binding of [(3)H]imidacloprid (IMI) to nerve-cord membranes from [START]Periplaneta americana[END] L. Two alkaloids were also tested for their actions on nAChRs expressed by cockroach neurons using patch-clamp electrophysiology. RESULTS: Four natural quinolizidine alkaloids (matrine, sophocarpine, cytisine and aloperine) exhibited more than 50% inhibition of [(3)H]IMI binding at 10 microM, although other compounds were found to have no or low inhibitory activity. The rank order of potency based on concentration-inhibition curves was cytisine > sophocarpine >or= aloperine >or= matrine. Patch-clamp analysis indicated that sophocarpine and aloperine were not agonists of nAChRs expressed in [START]P. americana[END] neurons, yet, at 10 microM, aloperine, but not sophocarpine, suppressed ACh-induced inward currents significantly. CONCLUSION: Three of the four natural alkaloids tested possess structural moieties that are necessary for interaction with [START]P. americana[END] nAChRs. Aloperine, which possesses a unique structure and showed a distinctive dose-response curve, was found to act as an antagonist. Appropriate modifications of these alkaloids might result in novel insecticidal nAChR ligands.
",18566954
0,6978,"Efficacy of entomopathogenic hypocrealean fungi against [START]Periplaneta americana[END].
The [START]American cockroach[END] [START]Periplaneta americana[END], one of the worlds' most important urban insect pests was tested with entomopathogenic fungi. Most promising Metarhizium anisopliae, Metarhizium robertsii and Beauveria bassiana killed nymphs (>= 81.7% mortality, 25 days after treatment), and these fungi developed on all dead insects. Other fungi tested were less virulent (Metarhizium frigidum and Purpureocillium lilacinum) or avirulent (Isaria cateniobliqua, Isaria farinosa, Simplicillium lanosoniveum, Sporothrix insectorum and Tolypocladium cylindrosporum). Intrageneric and intraspecific variability of fungal activity was detected. Adults were highly susceptible, and oothecae proved to be more resistant than nymphs and adults to infection with M. anisopliae IP 46. Findings of the study underscore the potential of fungi as biocontrol agents against this pest.
",23899866
0,6978,"Different neuroendocrine cell types in the pars intercerebralis of [START]Periplaneta americana[END] produce their own specific IGF-related peptides.
Of the nine genes of the [START]American cockroach[END], [START]Periplaneta americana[END], coding for peptides related to insulin and insulin-like growth factor, seven show significant expression in the central nervous system as demonstrated by the polymerase chain reaction on reverse transcribed RNA. In situ hybridisation shows that five of those are expressed by cells in the pars intercerebralis. Antisera raised to the predicted peptides show that these cells are neuroendocrine in nature and project to the corpora cardiaca. Interestingly, there are at least three cell types that each express different genes. This contrasts with Drosophila where a single cell type expresses a number of genes expressing several such peptides. Whereas in Drosophila the neuroendocrine cells producing insulin-like peptides also express sulfakinins, the arthropod orthologs of gastrin and cholecystokinin, in [START]Periplaneta[END] the sulfakinins are produced by different cells. Other neuropeptides known to be produced by the pars intercerebralis in [START]Periplaneta[END] and other insect species, such as the CRF-like diuretic hormone, neuroparsin, leucokinin or myosuppressin, neither colocalize with an insulin-related peptide. The separate cellular localization of these peptides and the existence of multiple insulin receptors in this species implies a more complex regulation by insulin and IGF-related peptides in cockroaches than in the fruit fly.
",36791825
0,6978,"Ovicidal and repellent activities of several plant essential oils against [START]Periplaneta americana[END] L. and enhanced activities from their combined formulation.
Natural ovicidal and repellent agents against [START]Periplaneta americana[END] L. are urgently needed, and plant essential oils (EOs) can assume this role quite readily. In this study, ovicidal and repellent activities against [START]Periplaneta americana[END] of EOs from Cymbopogon citratus (Stapf.), Cinnamomum verum (J. Presl.), Eucalyptus globulus (Labill.), Illicium verum (Hook.f.), and Zanthoxylum limonella (Alston) in soybean oil and in ethyl alcohol were determined by topical and dual-choice assays, as well as 10% cypermethrin and a combined formulation of 5% C. verum EO + 5% I. verum EO. Cypermethrin at 10% provided the highest toxicity (100% inhibition rate) against the eggs, but only slightly higher than that (99.3%) provided by the combined EO formulation, while the highest repellent activity against the adults was provided by the combined formulation (89.5% repelled cockroaches at 48 h after treatment). In addition, all EO formulations in soybean oil provided higher ovicidal and repellent activities than those in ethyl alcohol. To conclude, the combined EO formulation in soybean oil can replace cypermethrin because their efficacy was nearly equivalent, but the combination should be much safer to use.
",35840624
0,6978,"Function of the lipopolysaccharide-binding protein of [START]Periplaneta americana[END] as an opsonin.
Previously, we reported the purification of an LPS-binding protein from the hemolymph of the [START]American cockroach[END] that was specific for E. coli LPS. In this study we found that this protein participated in the clearance of E. coli cells injected into the abdominal cavity of the cockroach, and that hemocytes ingested E. coli cells treated with this LPS-binding protein in vitro. These findings suggest that this LPS-binding protein acts as an opsonin.
",1537405
0,6978,"Intraspecific Signals Inducing Aggregation in [START]Periplaneta americana[END] (Insecta: Dictyoptera).
Chemical communication is necessary to induce aggregation and to maintain the cohesion of aggregates in [START]Periplaneta americana[END] (L.) cockroaches. We aimed to identify the chemical message inducing aggregation in this species. Two types of bioassays were used-binary choice tests in Petri dishes and tests in Y-olfactometer. Papers conditioned by direct contact of conspecifics induce aggregation when proposed in binary choice tests and were attractive in a Y-olfactometer. The identification of the molecules present on these conditioned papers indicated that dichloromethane extracts contained mainly cuticular hydrocarbons whereas methanol extracts contained more volatile molecules. Only a mixture of extracts in both solvents induced aggregation. High concentrations of cuticular hydrocarbons are necessary to induce aggregation when presented alone. When presented with volatile molecules present in methanol extracts, low concentrations of cuticular hydrocarbons are sufficient to induce aggregation if they are presented in contact. Among volatile molecules collected on filter paper, a mixture of three compounds-hexadecanoic acid, pentadecanoic acid, and pentaethylene glycol-induced aggregation. Our results provide evidence that aggregation processes in [START]P. americana[END] relies on a dual mechanism: attraction over long distances by three volatile molecules and maintenance on site by contact with cuticular hydrocarbons. 
",26313978
0,6978,"Comparative Transcriptomics Reveals the Expression Differences Between Four Developmental Stages of [START]American Cockroach[END] ([START]Periplaneta americana[END]).
The globally distributed [START]American cockroach[END] ([START]Periplaneta americana[END]) is considered a pest, but it has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. In the past, the [START]American cockroach[END]'s genome and transcriptomes were sequenced, but the differential expression transcripts between developmental stages were unavailable. We performed the de novo assembly and analysis of [START]American cockroach[END] transcriptomes from four developmental stages. Approximately 200 million high-quality paired-end reads were generated by using Illumina Hiseq 2000 sequencer. The assembly produced 291,250 transcripts with an average length of 714 bp. In addition, 38,052 microsatellites and 11,060,020 transposable elements were identified. Based on sequence homology, 53,262 transcripts were annotated. After calculating the expression levels of all the transcripts, we found that 13 transcripts were highly expressed in all the samples and at least two, p10 and actin-related protein 1, played important roles during development. A total of 7954 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) were identified. The adult had the largest number of DETs when compared to other samples (4818), while the 3rd and 8th larva had the least number of DETs (1332). We performed gene enrichment analysis with the DETs, and some interesting results were detected in the different groups. For example, chitin is the major component of the insect exoskeleton, and the chitin-related genes in larvae and new molted samples had higher expression levels than in adults. In addition, the enrichment analysis detected many chitin-related pathways. Our study performed the first large-scale comparative transcriptomics between the developmental stages of [START]American cockroach[END], which could provide useful gene expression data for future studies.
",31524500
0,6978,"Characterization and diabetic wound healing benefits of protein-polysaccharide complexes isolated from an animal ethno-medicine [START]Periplaneta americana[END] L.
[START]Periplaneta americana[END] L. (PA), a type of animal medicine, has been widely used for wound healing in clinical settings. In order to further investigate the bioactive wound healing substances in PA, crude PA protein-polysaccharide complexes were further purified by cellulose DE-52 and Sephadex G100 chromatography in succession. Among these isolated fractions, two fractions eluted by 0.3 M and 0.5 M NaCl with the higher yield, respectively named PaPPc2 and PaPPc3 respectively, were chosen for the wound healing experiments. Mediated by HPGPC, amino acid and monosaccharide composition analysis, circular dichroism spectrum, glycosylation type, FT-IR, and 1H NMR analysis, the characterization of PaPPc2 and PaPPc3 was implemented. And then, the benefits of PaPPcs to promote cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HUVECs were determined in vitro, indicated these fractions would facilitate angiogenesis. Finally, as proof of concept, PaPPc2 and PaPPc3 were employed to accelerate the acute wounds of diabetic mice, involving in increase blood vessels and the amounts of angiogenesis-related cytokines (alpha-SMA, VEGF, and CD31). In short, this study provides an experimental basis to demonstrate the protein-polysaccharide complexes of [START]Periplaneta americana[END] L. as its wound healing bioactive substances.
",34914909
0,6978,"The molting gland of the cockroach [START]Periplaneta americana[END]: secretory activity and its regulation.
1. The prothoracic gland is the main source of ecdysteroids in larvae of the cockroach [START]Periplaneta americana[END]. 2. Besides ecdysone the molting gland of [START]Periplaneta[END] secretes 3-dehydroecdysone and proteins. 3. The molting gland of [START]Periplaneta[END] is regulated in different successive steps of cooperation of nervous and neuroendocrine activity. 4. Neurogenic effects on the molting gland via the prothoracic gland nerves are concentrated on the period of prepeak production of ecdysteroids. 5. Prior to the 17th day, the glands secretory activity is inhibited by GABA-ergic neuronal pathways from the subesophageal ganglion. 6. Neurogenic disinhibition by a peptidergic brain factor elicits the competence of the gland for prepeak activity, completed by the glandotropic effect of PTTH. 7. The 17th day of the larval stage is characterized as the head critical period, i.e., after this period the ecdysteroid secretion of the gland is independent of the prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) from the brain. 8. The main peak of ecdysteroid production is regulated by prothoracicotropic neuropeptids from the brain.
",9195189
0,6978,"Experimental transmission of Toxocara canis from Blattella germanica and [START]Periplaneta americana[END] cockroaches to a paratenic host.
The present study assessed the capacity of Blattella germanica and [START]Periplaneta americana[END] to disseminate and transmit infective phases of T. canis to rats, which were used as a model paratenic host. [START]P. americana[END] and B. germanica inoculated orally with T. canis larvated eggs shed eggs and larvae in their fecal matter during the first 6days post-inoculation. Larvae were recovered from the brain, lungs, kidneys and liver of rats that had been inoculated with either infected cockroaches or their feces. ELISAs of serum detected an increase of antibodies anti-T. canis excretion-secretion antigens, whereas Western Blot (WB) showed 4 bands (120, 50, 35 and 28kDa) that were similar to those found in positive control rats. Macroscopically, the liver and kidneys of infected rats had hemorrhagic areas with milk-spot-like lesions. The lungs showed diffuse grey protuberances. Histologically, hemorrhagic areas with leucocytic infiltrate were observed in the liver, lungs and kidneys. Some larvae were found within a granuloma that was surrounded by eosinophils and other leucocytic infiltrates. Larvae were found in the brain, but without inflammatory infiltrate. Both cockroach species that ingested larvated eggs of T. canis may shed viable larvae or eggs in their fecal matter. The induction of specific serum antibodies, presence of larvae in tissues and characteristic lesions associated with larval migration in the organs of rats that had ingested either whole adults or feces of B. germanica or [START]P. americana[END] demonstrate the capacity of these cockroaches to transmit toxocariosis to paratenic hosts.
",28969780
0,6978,"Shock-induced Analgesia in the cockroach ([START]Periplaneta americana[END]).
For 3 consecutive days cockroaches ([START]Periplaneta americana[END]) received escapable, inescapable, or no shock in an escape task. 24 hr. later minimum shock which initiated movement was identified. Reliably higher shocks were needed to initiate movement in the inescapably shocked roaches. In a second experiment the analgesia induced by inescapable shock was blocked by the opiate antagonist naloxone. The results are discussed in relation to the escape deficit and analgesia commonly seen following exposure to inescapable shock in a variety of species.
",8058847
0,6978,"Antennal motor system of the cockroach, [START]Periplaneta americana[END].
The organization of the antennal muscles, nerves, and motor neurons has been investigated in the cockroach, [START]Periplaneta americana[END]. Antennal movements have been observed by video analysis, muscle actions have been determined by dissection and direct mechanical testing, and the motor neurons innervating each muscle have been defined with a recently developed selective backfill method. A model of the antennomotor system of [START]Periplaneta[END] has thus been established and compared with that of crickets. Five muscles located within the head capsule insert on the most proximal antennal segment, the scape. By their action, they allow the scape to move in essentially any direction within the dorsoventral and anteroposterior planes. An additional pair of muscles, one dorsal and one ventral, are found within the scape. They insert on the pedicel and move the pedicel in the dorsal-ventral plane. These seven muscles are controlled by at least 17 motor neurons with somata located in the deutocerebrum. By their action, these motor neurons enable cockroaches to move the long flagellum of each antenna through a wide range of positions in the frontal space, medio-laterally, and also allow depression toward the substrate and elevation well above the level of the head. The antennal motor neurons have been classified into five morphological types based on soma and axon location. Each morphological type has been correlated with a particular pattern of muscle innervation and control. The neurites of all motor neurons are located along the medial aspect of the dorsal lobe of the deutocerebrum.
",18193285
0,6978,"Purification and functional characterization of lectin with phenoloxidase activity from the hemolymph of cockroach, [START]Periplaneta americana[END].
Lectins also identified as hemagglutinins are multivalent proteins and on account of their fine sugar-binding specificity play an important role in immune system of invertebrates. The present study was carried out on the hemolymph lectin of cockroach, [START]Periplaneta americana[END] with appropriate screening and purification to understand its molecular as well as functional nature. The lectin from the hemolymph was purified using ion-exchange chromatography. The approximate molecular weight of purified lectin was 340 kDa as determined by FPLC analysis. Rabbit erythrocytes were highly agglutinated with purified lectin from the hemolymph of [START]P. americana[END]. The hemagglutination activity (HA) of lectin was specifically inhibited by fucose. Glycoproteins also inhibited the HA activity of lectin. The amino acid sequences of the purified lectin revealed homology with amino acid sequences of allergen proteins from [START]P. americana[END]. Purified lectin showed the highest phenoloxidase activity against dopamine. The activators such as exogenous proteases and LPS from Escherichia coli and Salmonella minnesota significantly enhanced the PO activity of the purified lectin. Besides, the presence of copper and hemocyanin conserved domain in the purified lectin provided a new facet that insects belonging to the ancient clade such as cockroaches retained some traces of evolutionary resemblance in possessing lectin of ancient origin.
",28557066
0,6978,"Presence of the [START]Periplaneta[END] lectin-related protein family in the [START]American cockroach[END] [START]Periplaneta americana[END].
We determined the partial amino acid sequences of [START]Periplaneta[END] lectin, which we had purified and characterized previously from the hemolymph of the [START]American cockroach[END] ([START]Periplaneta americana[END]) [Kubo T. and Natori S. (1987) Eur. J. Biochem. 168, 75-82]. Based on these sequences, we performed PCR and found that the cDNA library of the [START]Periplaneta[END] fat body contained many similar, but not identical, [START]Periplaneta[END] lectin-related cDNAs. Analysis of the cloned cDNAs suggested that [START]Periplaneta[END] has a protein family, of which the [START]periplaneta[END] lectin and LPS binding protein purified previously are members.
",8814782
0,6978,"[Research status of [START]Periplaneta americana[END] with analyses and prospects of key issues].
[START]Periplaneta americana[END] is one of the common traditional Chinese medicines, which has a long application history. It can tonify spleen, promote blood circulation, induce diuresis to alleviate edema, and promote granulation. It is clinically used for the treatment of alimentary canal diseases, chronic heart failure, cutaneous lesion, periodontitis and other diseases. There are some representative prescriptions, such as Kangfu Xinye, Xinmailong injection, Ganlong capsule, and Xiaozheng Yigan tablet. This paper reviewed the chemical components, pharmacological effects and clinical applications of [START]P. americana[END], firstly summarized standards for the quality control of [START]P. americana[END], found out and analyzed the key problems in the research. The aim of this paper is to provide the references for the further development and application of [START]P. americana[END].
",29728044
0,6978,"Learned helplessness in the cockroach ([START]Periplaneta americana[END]).
For 3 consecutive days cockroaches ([START]Periplaneta americana[END]) were exposed to either escapable, inescapable, or no shock in an escape task. Twenty-four hours later they were tested in a shuttlebox escape task. There were reliable differences between escapable and inescapable animals and between inescapable and control animals in both escape latencies and the number of failures to escape.
",3228423
0,6978,"Cockroaches ([START]Periplaneta americana[END] and Blattella germanica) as potential vectors of the pathogenic bacteria found in nosocomial infections.
Although it has been difficult to prove the direct involvement of cockroaches (i.e. insects of the order Blattaria) in the transmission of pathogenic agents to humans, such insects often carry microorganisms that are important in nosocomial infections, and their medical importance in the spread of bacteria cannot be ruled out. In houses and institutions with poor standards of hygiene, heavy infestations with cockroaches, such as the peridomestic [START]American cockroach[END] (Periplaneta americana L.) and the domestic German cockroach (Blattella germanica L.), can occur. In the present study, cockroaches (126 B. germanica and 69 [START]P. americana[END]) were collected from four buildings (three public training hospitals and one house) in central Tehran, Iran. Each insect was processed, under sterile conditions, so that the bacteria on its external surfaces and in its alimentary tract and faecal pellets could be isolated and identified. The oldest and largest of the three hospitals sampled (a 1400-bed unit built 80 years ago) appeared to be the one most heavily infested with cockroaches, and cockroaches from this hospital accounted for most (65.4%) of the isolates of medically important bacteria made during the study. No significant difference was found between the percentages of [START]P. americana[END] and B. germanica carrying medically important bacteria (96.8% v. 93.6%; P>0.05). At least 25 different species of medically important bacteria were isolated and identified, and at least 22 were Gramnegative. The genus of enteric bacteria most frequently isolated from both cockroach species, at all four collection sites, was Klebsiella. The cockroaches from each hospital were much more likely to be found contaminated with medically important bacteria than those from the house. The hospital cockroaches were also more likely to be carrying medically important bacteria internally than externally (84.3% v. 64.1%; P<0.05). The implications of these and other recent results, for the control of cockroaches and nosocomial infections, are discussed.
",20863441
0,7070,"Developmental O-glycan profile analysis shows pentasaccharide mucin-type O-glycans are linked with pupation of [START]Tribolium castaneum[END].
Eukaryotic cells can decorate their proteins with carbohydrate structures or glycans, significantly affecting the properties and activities of these proteins. Despite the importance of protein glycosylation in numerous biological processes, our knowledge of this modification in insects is far from complete. While N-glycosylation is the most studied, the study of O-glycans in insects is still very fragmentary and these studies are limited to a specific developmental stage or a specific tissue. In this article, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometry (MS) technology was used to analyze the O-glycan profile for the different developmental stages of egg, larva, pupa, and adult of the [START]red flour beetle[END] [START]Tribolium castaneum[END], an important insect model and pest worldwide. The results on the O-glycan profile showed that the mucin-type glycans dominate the O-glycome of the [START]red flour beetle[END]. Interestingly, some of the more complex mucin-type O-glycans, such as a tetra- (O-GalNAcGalGlcAGalNAc) and pentasaccharide O-glycan (O-GalNAc(GalGlcA)GalNAcGlcA), were highly abundant during the pupa stage, the intermediate stage between larval and adult stage in holometabolous insects, demonstrating that insect metamorphosis is accompanied with a change in the insect O-glycan profile. Together with the N-glycan profile, the current data are a foundation to better understand the role of protein glycosylation in the development of insects.
",34796531
0,7070,"[START]Tribolium castaneum[END]: A Model for Investigating the Mode of Action of Insecticides and Mechanisms of Resistance.
The [START]red flour beetle[END], [START]Tribolium castaneum[END], is a worldwide insect pest of stored products, particularly food grains, and a powerful model organism for developmental, physiological and applied entomological research on coleopteran species. Among coleopterans, [START]T. castaneum[END] has the most fully sequenced and annotated genome and consequently provides the most advanced genetic model of a coleopteran pest. The beetle is also easy to culture and has a short generation time. Research on this beetle is further assisted by the availability of expressed sequence tags and transcriptomic data. Most importantly, it exhibits a very robust response to systemic RNA interference (RNAi), and a database of RNAi phenotypes (iBeetle) is available. Finally, classical transposonbased techniques together with CRISPR/Cas-mediated gene knockout and genome editing allow the creation of transgenic lines. As [START]T. castaneum[END] develops resistance rapidly to many classes of insecticides including organophosphates, methyl carbamates, pyrethroids, neonicotinoids and insect growth regulators such as chitin synthesis inhibitors, it is further a suitable test system for studying resistance mechanisms. In this review, we will summarize recent advances in research focusing on the mode of action of insecticides and mechanisms of resistance identified using [START]T. castaneum[END] as a pest model.
",32400327
0,7070,"Benzoquinone synthesis-related genes of [START]Tribolium castaneum[END] confer the robust antifungal host defense to the adult beetles through the inhibition of conidial germination on the body surface.
Insects fight against invading microbial pathogens through various immune-related measures that comprise 'internal', 'external' as well as 'social' immunities. The defenses by external immunity associated with the cuticular integument are supposed to be of particular importance in repelling entomopathogenic fungi that infect host insects transcutaneously. Among such integument-related defenses, external secretions of benzoquinone derivatives typical of tenebrionid beetles have been suggested to play important roles in the antimicrobial defenses. In the present study, by utilizing the experimental infection system composed of the [START]red flour beetle[END] [START]Tribolium castaneum[END] and generalist ascomycete entomopathogens Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, we performed the functional assays of the three [START]T. castaneum[END] genes whose involvement in benzoquinone synthesis in the adults has been reported, namely GT39, GT62 and GT63. Observations by scanning electron microcopy (SEM) revealed that the conidia of the two fungal species did not germinate on the wild-type adult body surface but did on the pupae. The expression analyses demonstrated that the levels of GT39 and GT62 mRNA increased from middle pupae and reached high in early adults while GT63 did not show a clear adult-biased expression pattern. The RNA interference-based knockdown of any of the three genes in pupae resulted in the adults compromised to the infection of the both fungal species. SEM observations revealed that the gene silencing allowed the conidial germination on the body surface of the knockdown beetles, thereby impairing the robust antifungal defense of adult beetles. Thus, we have provided direct experimental evidence for the functional importance in vivo of these benzoquinone synthesis-related genes that support the antifungal defense of tenebrionid beetles.
",31805286
0,7070,"Functional diversification of three delta-class glutathione S-transferases involved in development and detoxification in [START]Tribolium castaneum[END].
Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are members of a multifunctional enzyme superfamily. Forty-one GSTs have been identified in [START]Tribolium castaneum[END]; however, none of the 41 GSTs has been functionally characterized. Here, three delta-class GSTs, TcGSTd1, TcGSTd2 and TcGSTd3, of [START]T. castaneum[END] were successfully cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. All of the studied GSTs catalysed the conjugation of reduced glutathione with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. Insecticide treatment showed that the expression levels of TcGSTd3 and TcGSTd2 were significantly increased after exposure to phoxim and lambda-cyhalothrin, whereas TcGSTd1 was slightly upregulated only in response to phoxim. A disc diffusion assay showed that overexpression of TcGSTD3, but not TcGSTD1 or TcGSTD2, in E. coli increased resistance to paraquat-induced oxidative stress. RNA interference knockdown of TcGSTd1 caused metamorphosis deficiencies and reduced fecundity by regulating insulin/target-of-rapamycin signalling pathway-mediated ecdysteroid biosynthesis, and knockdown of TcGSTd3 led to reduced fertility and a decreased hatch rate of the offspring, probably caused by the reduced antioxidative activity in the reproductive organs. These results indicate that TcGSTd3 and TcGSTd2 may play vital roles in cellular detoxification, whereas TcGSTd1 may play essential roles in normal development of [START]T. castaneum[END]. These delta-class GSTs in [START]T. castaneum[END] have obtained different functions during the evolution.
",31999035
0,7070,"Beetling around the genome.
The [START]red flour beetle[END], [START]Tribolium castaneum[END], has been selected for whole genome shotgun sequencing in the next year. In this minireview, we discuss some of the genetic and genomic tools and biological properties of [START]Tribolium[END] that have established its importance as an organism for agricultural and biomedical research as well as for studies of development and evolution. A [START]Tribolium[END] genomic database, Beetlebase, is being constructed to integrate genetic, genomic and biological data as it becomes available.
",15134194
0,7070,"[START]Tribolium castaneum[END] gene expression changes after Paranosema whitei infection.
BACKGROUND: Microsporidia are obligate parasites that possess some of the smallest eukaryotic genomes. Several insect species are susceptible to infections by microsporidian parasites. Paranosema whitei frequently infects young larvae of [START]Tribolium castaneum[END] and obligately kills the host whereupon transmission to subsequent hosts is accomplished via spores. P. whitei infection results in developmental arrest of [START]T. castaneum[END], preventing larvae from pupation. The mechanisms underlying P. whitei virulence as well as the molecular underpinning of host defenses remain uncharacterized. In the present study, we evaluated gene expression differences of [START]T. castaneum[END] infected with the microsporidian parasite P. whitei. RESULTS: More than 1500 [START]T. castaneum[END] genes were differentially expressed after infection with P. whitei. Several important host pathways appeared to be differentially expressed after infection, where immune genes were among the highest differential expressed genes. Genes involved in the Toll pathway and its effectors were specifically upregulated. Furthermore, iron homeostasis processes and transmembrane transport appeared significantly altered after P. whitei infection. Kruppel homolog 1 (Kr-h1) and other genes of the juvenile hormone (JH) pathway appeared differentially expressed after parasite infection. In addition, a small number of long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) appeared differentially expressed after P. whitei infection. CONCLUSION: In this study we characterized for the first time using RNA-seq the immune response of [START]T. castaneum[END] to P. whitei. Other pathways (transmembrane transport, iron homeostasis, protein synthesis, JH) indicate possible alterations of the host by the parasite such as a possible developmental arrest caused by JH regulation. Furthermore we find evidence that some lincRNAs might be connected to defense as previously reported for other insect species.
",29452083
0,7070,"Functional analysis of sense organ specification in the [START]Tribolium castaneum[END] larva reveals divergent mechanisms in insects.
Insects and other arthropods utilise external sensory structures for mechanosensory, olfactory, and gustatory reception. These sense organs have characteristic shapes related to their function, and in many cases are distributed in a fixed pattern so that they are identifiable individually. In Drosophila melanogaster, the identity of sense organs is regulated by specific combinations of transcription factors. In other arthropods, however, sense organ subtypes cannot be linked to the same code of gene expression. This raises the questions of how sense organ diversity has evolved and whether the principles underlying subtype identity in D. melanogaster are representative of other insects. Here, we provide evidence that such principles cannot be generalised, and suggest that sensory organ diversification followed the recruitment of sensory genes to distinct sensory organ specification mechanism. RESULTS: We analysed sense organ development in a nondipteran insect, the flour beetle [START]Tribolium castaneum[END], by gene expression and RNA interference studies. We show that in contrast to D. melanogaster, [START]T. castaneum[END] sense organs cannot be categorised based on the expression or their requirement for individual or combinations of conserved sense organ transcription factors such as cut and pox neuro, or members of the Achaete-Scute (Tc ASH, Tc asense), Atonal (Tc atonal, Tc cato, Tc amos), and neurogenin families (Tc tap). Rather, our observations support an evolutionary scenario whereby these sensory genes are required for the specification of sense organ precursors and the development and differentiation of sensory cell types in diverse external sensilla which do not fall into specific morphological and functional classes. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our findings and past research, we present an evolutionary scenario suggesting that sense organ subtype identity has evolved by recruitment of a flexible sensory gene network to the different sense organ specification processes. A dominant role of these genes in subtype identity has evolved as a secondary effect of the function of these genes in individual or subsets of sense organs, probably modulated by positional cues.
",33546687
0,7070,"Non-lethal genotyping of [START]Tribolium castaneum[END] adults using genomic DNA extracted from wing tissue.
The [START]red flour beetle[END] [START]Tribolium castaneum[END] has become the second most important insect model organism and is frequently used in developmental biology, genetics and pest-associated research. Consequently, the methodological arsenal increases continuously, but many routinely applied techniques for Drosophila melanogaster and other insect species are still unavailable. For example, a protocol for non-lethal genotyping has not yet been adapted but is particularly useful when individuals with known genotypes are required for downstream experiments. In this study, we present a workflow for non-lethal genotyping of [START]T. castaneum[END] adults based on extracting genomic DNA from wing tissue. In detail, we describe a convenient procedure for wing dissection and a custom method for wing digestion that allows PCR-based genotyping of up to fifty adults in less than an afternoon with a success rate of about 86%. The amount of template is sufficient for up to ten reactions while viability and fertility of the beetles are preserved. We prove the applicability of our protocol by genotyping the white / scarlet gene pair alleles from the black-eyed San Bernadino wild-type and white-eyed Pearl recessive mutant strains spanning four generations. Non-lethal genotyping has the potential to improve and accelerate many workflows: Firstly, during the establishment process of homozygous cultures or during stock keeping of cultures that carry recessively lethal alleles, laborious test crossing is replaced by non-lethal genotyping. Secondly, in genome engineering assays, non-lethal genotyping allows the identification of appropriate founders before they are crossed against wild-types, narrowing the efforts down to only the relevant individuals. Thirdly, non-lethal genotyping simplifies experimental strategies, in which genotype and behavior should be correlated, since the genetic configuration of potential individuals can be determined before the actual behavior assays is performed.
",28800588
0,7070,"Development of a new method for collecting hemolymph and measuring phenoloxidase activity in [START]Tribolium castaneum[END].
OBJECTIVE: Hemolymph plays many important roles in the physiology of an insect throughout its lifetime; however, for small-bodied insects, studies are lacking because of the difficulties encountered while collecting hemolymph. The objective of our study was to develop a method to collect hemolymph plasma from various stages of [START]Tribolium castaneum[END] and to evaluate phenoloxidase activity in the plasma samples. We first designed a procedure for easily and quickly collecting clear hemolymph plasma from [START]T. castaneum[END]. RESULTS: By using this method, we collected approximately 5 microl plasma from 30 individuals at the larval, pupal or adult stages. And then, we studied the expression of phenoloxidase by performing western blot analysis of the plasma samples and found that phenoloxidase is present in hemolymph in each developmental stage. We also measured phenoloxidase activity in control plasma and plasma treated with Gram-positive bacteria, Micrococcus luteus. Phenoloxidase activity was greater in some of the M. luteus-treated plasma samples compared with control samples. Thus, we developed a method to collect hemolymph plasma that is suitable for studies of phenoloxidase activity.
",30616595
0,7070,"Abundant expression of somatic transposon-derived piRNAs throughout [START]Tribolium castaneum[END] embryogenesis.
BACKGROUND: Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a class of short (~26-31-nucleotide) non-protein-coding RNAs expressed in the metazoan germline. The piRNA pathway in arthropods is best understood in the ovary of Drosophila melanogaster, where it acts to silence active transposable elements (TEs). Maternal loading of piRNAs in oocytes is further required for the inheritance of piRNA-mediated transposon defence. However, our understanding of the diversity, evolution and function of the piRNA complement beyond drosophilids is limited. The [START]red flour beetle[END], [START]Tribolium castaneum[END], is an emerging model organism separated from Drosophila by ~ 350 million years of evolution that displays a number of features ancestral to arthropods, including short germ embryogenesis. Here, we characterize the maternally deposited and zygotically expressed small RNA and mRNA complements throughout [START]T. castaneum[END] embryogenesis. RESULTS: We find that beetle oocytes and embryos of all stages are abundant in heterogeneous ~ 28-nucleotide RNAs. These small RNAs originate from discrete genomic loci enriched in TE sequences and display the molecular signatures of transposon-derived piRNAs. In addition to the maternally loaded primary piRNAs, [START]Tribolium[END] embryos produce secondary piRNAs by the cleavage of zygotically activated TE transcripts via the ping-pong mechanism. The two [START]Tribolium[END] piRNA pathway effector proteins, Tc-Piwi/Aub and Tc-Ago3, are also expressed throughout the soma of early embryos. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the piRNA pathway in [START]Tribolium[END] is not restricted to the germline, but also operates in the embryo and may act to antagonize zygotically activated transposons. Taken together, these data highlight a functional divergence of the piRNA pathway between insects.
",28950880
0,7070,"UVB Radiation Delays [START]Tribolium castaneum[END] Metamorphosis by Influencing Ecdysteroid Metabolism.
Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is an important environmental factor. It is generally known that UVB exhibits high genotoxicity due to causing DNA damage, potentially leading to skin carcinogenesis and aging in mammals. However, little is known about the effects of UVB on the development and metamorphosis of insects, which are the most abundant terrestrial animals. In the present study, we performed dose-response analyses of the effects UVB irradiation on [START]Tribolium castaneum[END] metamorphosis, assessed the function of the [START]T. castaneum[END] prothoracicotropic hormone gene (Trcptth), and analyzed ecdysteroid pathway gene expression profile and ecdysterone titers post-UVB irradiation. The results showed that UVB not only caused death of [START]T. castaneum[END] larvae, but also delayed larval-pupal metamorphosis and reduced the size and emergence rate of pupae. In addition, we verified the function of Trcptth, which is responsible for regulating metamorphosis. It was also found that the expression profiles of Trcptth as well as ecdysteroidogenesis and response genes were influenced by UVB radiation. Therefore, a disturbance pulse of ecdysteroid may be involved in delaying development under exposure to irradiation. To our knowledge, this is the first report indicating that UVB can influence the metamorphosis of insects. This study will contribute to a better understanding of the impact of UVB on signaling mechanisms in insect metamorphosis. 
",26986217
0,7070,"Polygene control and trait dominance in death-feigning syndrome in the [START]red flour beetle[END] [START]Tribolium castaneum[END].
Death-feigning behavior is an anti-predatory technique used in several animal taxa and often correlates with inhibited movements (i.e., death-feigning syndrome). We performed a reciprocal crossing among strains exhibiting a genetically longer (L-strain) and shorter (S-strain) duration of death feigning. Then, we investigated related heritable factors in F1 and F2 populations. We also evaluated movement activities, which negatively responded to artificial selection for death feigning in [START]T. castaneum[END]. Our results indicated that death feigning occurred more frequently and for shorter periods in the F1 population. However, in the F2 population, death feigning and movement exhibited continuous segregation. Although the distribution of each trait value in the F2 generation differed from that of the parental generation, no individuals transgressing the distribution of trait values in the parental generation emerged from the F2 generation. Besides, chi-square analysis of the observed death feigning and movement of F1 and F2 progenies rejected the hypothesis of mono-major gene inheritance. These results suggested that the death-feigning syndrome was polygenically controlled, indicating the usefulness of reciprocal crossing experiments in assessing the quantitative inheritance of behavioral traits.
",35916953
0,7070,"Crinkled employs wingless pathway for wing development in [START]Tribolium castaneum[END].
Crinkled is associated with embryonic denticle formation and auditory organ development in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the functions of Crinkled have not been fully investigated. Additionally, the genes that participate in the Crinkled pathway are unknown. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that crinkled exhibits a one-to-one orthologous relationship in insects. In [START]Tribolium castaneum[END], the crinkled gene is 6,498 bp in length and consists of six exons. Crinkled expression peaked during two phases in [START]Tribolium[END]: late embryonic and pupal stages. High levels of crinkled mRNA were detected in the fat body, head, epidermis, ovary, and accessory gland of late adults. Knockdown of crinkled using RNA interference (RNAi) severely affected wing morphogenesis in [START]T. castaneum[END]. We further showed that crinkled silencing reduced forked expression through wingless and shaven-baby, and RNAi of forked phenocopied the effects of crinkled knockdown in [START]T. castaneum[END]. This study investigated the development role of crinkled in postembryonic stages and indicated that forked mediates the functions of crinkled during wing morphogenesis in [START]T. castaneum[END].
",29984841
0,7070,"Latrophilin mediates insecticides susceptibility and fecundity through two carboxylesterases, esterase4 and esterase6, in [START]Tribolium castaneum[END].
Latrophilin (LPH) is known as an adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor which involved in multiple physiological processes in organisms. Previous studies showed that lph not only involved the susceptibility to anticholinesterase insecticides but also affected fecundity in [START]Tribolium castaneum[END]. However, its regulatory mechanisms in these biological processes are still not clear. Here, we identified two potential downstream carboxylesterase (cce) genes of Tclph, esterase4 and esterase6, and further characterized their interactions with Tclph. After treatment of [START]T. castaneum[END] larvae with carbofuran or dichlorvos insecticides, the transcript levels of Tcest4 and Tcest6 were significantly induced from 12 to 72 h. RNAi against Tcest4 or Tcest6 led to the higher mortality compared with the controls after the insecticides treatment, suggesting that these two genes play a vital role in detoxification of insecticides in [START]T. castaneum[END]. Furthermore, with insecticides exposure to Tclph knockdown beetles, the expression of Tcest4 was upregulated but Tcest6 was downregulated, indicating that beetles existed a compensatory response against the insecticides. Additionally, RNAi of Tcest6 resulted in 43% reductions in female egg laying and completely inhibited egg hatching, which showed the similar phenotype as that of Tclph knockdown. These results indicated that Tclph affected fecundity by positively regulating Tcest6 expression. Our findings will provide a new insight into the molecular mechanisms of Tclph involved in physiological functions in [START]T. castaneum[END].
",30789108
0,7070,"Transcriptional plasticity of different ABC transporter genes from [START]Tribolium castaneum[END] contributes to diflubenzuron resistance.
The development of insecticide resistance challenges the sustainability of pest control and several studies have shown that ABC transporters contribute to this process. ABC transporters are known to transport a large range of chemically diverse molecules across cellular membranes, and therefore the identification of ABC transporters involved in insecticide resistance is difficult. Here, we describe a comprehensive strategy for the identification of whole sets of ABC transporters involved in insecticide resistance using the pest beetle, [START]Tribolium castaneum[END] (Tc) as a model. We analyzed the expression of ABCA to ABCC genes in different tissues and developmental stages using larvae that were sensitive or resistant to diflubenzuron (DFB). The mRNA levels of several ABC genes expressed in excretory or metabolic tissues such as midgut, Malpighian tubules or fat body were markedly upregulated in response to DFB. Next, we monitored mortality in the presence of the ABC inhibitor verapamil, and found that it causes sensitization to DFB. We furthermore established a competitive assay for the elimination of DFB, based on Texas Red (TR) fluorescence. We monitored TR elimination in larvae that were treated with DFB or different ABC inhibitors, and combinations of them. TR elimination was decreased significantly in the presence of DFB, verapamil and the ABCC inhibitor MK-571. The effect was synergized when DFB and verapamil were both present suggesting that the transport of TR and DFB involves overlapping sets of ABC transporters. Finally, we silenced the expression of DFB-responding ABC genes by RNA interference and then followed the survival rates after DFB exposure. Mortality increased particularly when specific ABCA and ABCC genes were silenced. Taken together, we were able to show that different ABC transporters expressed in metabolic and excretory tissues contribute to the elimination of DFB. Up- or down-regulation of gene expression occurs within a few days already at very low DFB concentrations. These results suggests that transcriptional plasticity of several ABC genes allows adaptation of the efflux capacity in different tissues to eliminate insecticides and/or their metabolites.
",31740345
0,7070,"Knockdown of Uridine Diphosphate Glucosyltransferase 86Dg Enhances Susceptibility of [START]Tribolium castaneum[END] (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) to Artemisia vulgaris (Asterales: Asteraceae) Essential Oil.
Uridine diphosphate glucosyltransferases (UGTs), which are phase II detoxification enzymes, are found in various organisms. These enzymes play an important role in the detoxification mechanisms of plant allelopathy and in insects. Artemisia vulgaris L. (Asterales: Asteraceae: Artemisia) essential oil has strong contact toxicity to [START]Tribolium castaneum[END] Herbst (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) larvae. However, the effect of A. vulgaris essential oil on UGTs is unclear. In this study, A. vulgaris essential oil was shown to significantly induce the expression of the TcUgt86Dg transcript. Furthermore, treatment of TcUgt86Dg-silenced individuals with A. vulgaris essential oil resulted in higher mortality than for the control individuals, indicating that TcUgt86Dg is involved in detoxification of A. vulgaris essential oil in [START]T. castaneum[END]. The developmental expression profile showed that the expression of TcUgt86Dg in late adults was higher than in other developmental stages. Furthermore, the expression profile in adult tissues revealed higher expression of TcUgt86Dg in the head, antenna, fat body, and accessory gland than in other tissues. These data show that TcUgt86Dg may be involved in the metabolism of exogenous toxins by [START]T. castaneum[END]; thus, our results have elucidated one possible mechanism of resistance to A. vulgaris essential oil and provide a theoretical basis for a control scheme for [START]T. castaneum[END].
",34546358
0,7070,"A pair-rule gene circuit defines segments sequentially in the short-germ insect [START]Tribolium castaneum[END].
In Drosophila, a hierarchy of maternal, gap, pair-rule, and segment polarity gene interactions regulates virtually simultaneous blastoderm segmentation. For the last decade, studies have focused on revealing the extent to which Drosophila segmentation mechanisms are conserved in other arthropods where segments are added sequentially from anterior to posterior in a cellular environment. Despite our increased knowledge of individual segmentation genes, details of their interactions in non-Drosophilid insects are not well understood. We analyzed the [START]Tribolium[END] orthologs of Drosophila pair-rule genes, which display pair-rule expression patterns. [START]Tribolium castaneum[END] paired (Tc-prd) and sloppy-paired (Tc-slp) genes produced pair-rule phenotypes when their transcripts were severely reduced by RNA interference. In contrast, similar analysis of [START]T. castaneum[END] even-skipped (Tc-eve), runt (Tc-run), or odd-skipped (Tc-odd) genes produced severely truncated, almost completely asegmental phenotypes. Analysis of interactions between pair-rule components revealed that Tc-eve, Tc-run, and Tc-odd form a three-gene circuit to regulate one another as well as their downstream targets, Tc-prd and Tc-slp. The complement of primary pair-rule genes in [START]Tribolium[END] differs from Drosophila in that it includes Tc-odd but not Tc-hairy. This gene circuit defines segments sequentially in double segment periodicity. Furthermore, this single mechanism functions in the early blastoderm stage and subsequently during germ-band elongation. The periodicity of the [START]Tribolium[END] pair-rule gene interactions reveals components of the genetic hierarchy that are regulated in a repetitive circuit or clock-like mechanism. This pair-rule gene circuit provides insight into short-germ segmentation in [START]Tribolium[END] that may be more generally applicable to segmentation in other arthropods.
",16611732
0,7070,"iBeetle-Base: a database for RNAi phenotypes in the [START]red flour beetle[END] [START]Tribolium castaneum[END].
The iBeetle-Base (http://ibeetle-base.uni-goettingen.de) makes available annotations of RNAi phenotypes, which were gathered in a large scale RNAi screen in the [START]red flour beetle[END] [START]Tribolium castaneum[END] (iBeetle screen). In addition, it provides access to sequence information and links for all [START]Tribolium castaneum[END] genes. The iBeetle-Base contains the annotations of phenotypes of several thousands of genes knocked down during embryonic and metamorphic epidermis and muscle development in addition to phenotypes linked to oogenesis and stink gland biology. The phenotypes are described according to the EQM (entity, quality, modifier) system using controlled vocabularies and the [START]Tribolium[END] morphological ontology (TrOn). Furthermore, images linked to the respective annotations are provided. The data are searchable either for specific phenotypes using a complex 'search for morphological defects' or a 'quick search' for gene names and IDs. The [START]red flour beetle[END] [START]Tribolium castaneum[END] has become an important model system for insect functional genetics and is a representative of the most species rich taxon, the Coleoptera, which comprise several devastating pests. It is used for studying insect typical development, the evolution of development and for research on metabolism and pest control. Besides Drosophila, [START]Tribolium[END] is the first insect model organism where large scale unbiased screens have been performed. 
",25378303
0,7070,"The [START]red flour beetle[END] [START]Tribolium castaneum[END]: A model for host-microbiome interactions.
A large body of ongoing research focuses on understanding the mechanisms and processes underlying host-microbiome interactions, and predicting their ecological and evolutionary outcomes. To draw general conclusions about such interactions and understand how they are established, we must synthesize information from a diverse set of species. We analysed the microbiome of an important insect model-the [START]red flour beetle[END] [START]Tribolium castaneum[END]-which is a widespread generalist pest of stored cereals. The beetles complete their entire life cycle in flour, which thus serves multiple functions: habitat, food, and a source of microbes. We determined key factors that shape the [START]T. castaneum[END] microbiome, established protocols to manipulate it, and tested its consequences for host fitness. We show that the [START]T. castaneum[END] microbiome is derived from flour-acquired microbes, and varies as a function of (flour) resource and beetle density. Beetles gain multiple fitness benefits from their microbiome, such as higher fecundity, egg survival, and lifespan; and reduced cannibalism. In contrast, the microbiome has a limited effect on development rate, and does not enhance pathogen resistance. Importantly, the benefits are derived only from microbes in the ancestral resource (wheat flour), and not from novel resources such as finger millet, sorghum, and corn. Notably, the microbiome is not essential for beetle survival and development under any of the tested conditions. Thus, the [START]red flour beetle[END] is a tractable model system to understand the ecology, evolution and mechanisms of host-microbiome interactions, while closely mimicking the host species' natural niche.
",33006995
0,7070,"Antifungal roles of adult-specific cuticular protein genes of the [START]red flour beetle[END], [START]Tribolium castaneum[END].
The insect cuticle is a composite structure that can further be divided into a few sub-structural layers. Its large moiety comprises a lattice of chitin fibrils and structural proteins, both of which are stabilized by covalent bonding among them. The cuticle covers the whole surface of insect body, and thus has long been suggested for the involvement in defense against entomopathogens, especially entomopathogenic fungi that infect percutaneously. We have been addressing this issue in the past few years and have so far demonstrated experimentally that chitin synthase 1, laccase2 as well as benzoquinone synthesis-related genes of [START]Tribolium castaneum[END] have indispensable roles in the antifungal host defense. In the present study we focused on another major component of the insect cuticular integument, structural cuticular proteins. We chose three genes coding for adult-specific cuticular proteins, namely CPR4, CPR18 and CPR27, and examined their roles in forming immunologically sound adult cuticular integuments. Analyses of developmental expression revealed that the three genes showed high level expression in the pupal stage. These results are consistent with their proposed roles in constructing cuticle of adult beetles. The RNA interference-mediated gene knockdown was employed to silence these genes, and the administration of double strand RNAs in pupae resulted in the adults with malformed elytra. The single knockdown of the three genes attenuated somewhat the defense of the resulting adult beetles against Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, but statistical analyses indicated no significant differences from controls. In contrast, the double or triple knockdown mutant beetles displayed a drastic disruption of the host defense against the two entomopathogenic fungal species irrespective of the combination of targeted cuticular protein genes, demonstrating the important roles of the three cuticular protein genes in conferring robust antifungal properties on the adult cuticle. Scanning electron microscopic observation revealed that the germination of conidia attached on the adult body surface was still suppressed after the gene knockdown as in the case of wild-type beetles, suggesting that the weakened antifungal phenotypes resulted from the combined knockdown of the adult-specific cuticular protein genes could not be accounted for by the disfunction of secretion/retention of fungistatic benzoquinone derivatives.
",34606828
0,7227,"Gut-associated microbes of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
There is growing interest in using [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] to elucidate mechanisms that underlie the complex relationships between a host and its microbiota. In addition to the many genetic resources and tools [START]Drosophila[END] provides, its associated microbiota is relatively simple (1-30 taxa), in contrast to the complex diversity associated with vertebrates (> 500 taxa). These attributes highlight the potential of this system to dissect the complex cellular and molecular interactions that occur between a host and its microbiota. In this review, we summarize what is known regarding the composition of gut-associated microbes of [START]Drosophila[END] and their impact on host physiology. We also discuss these interactions in the context of their natural history and ecology and describe some recent insights into mechanisms by which [START]Drosophila[END] and its gut microbiota interact.
",22572876
0,7227,"Quantitative Bioimaging to Investigate the Uptake of Mercury Species in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
The uptake of mercury species in the model organism [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] was investigated by elemental bioimaging using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS). The mercury distribution in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] was analyzed for the three species mercury(II) chloride, methylmercury chloride, and thimerosal after intoxication. A respective analytical method was developed and applied to the analysis of the entire [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] first, before a particular focus was directed to the cerebral areas of larvae and adult flies. For quantification of mercury, matrix-matched standards based on gelatin were prepared. Challenges of spatially dissolved mercury determination, namely, strong evaporation issues of the analytes and an inhomogeneous distribution of mercury in the standards due to interactions with cysteine containing proteins of the gelatin were successfully addressed by complexation with meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA). No mercury was detected in the cerebral region for mercury(II) chloride, whereas both organic species showed the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Quantitatively, the mercury level in the brain exceeded the fed concentration indicating mercury enrichment, which was approximately 3 times higher for methylmercury chloride than for thimerosal. 
",26424032
0,7227,"Measuring the fitness benefits of male mate choice in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
It is increasingly realized that the potential for male mate choice is widespread across many taxa. However, measurements of the relative magnitude of the fitness benefits that such choice can confer are lacking. Here, we directly measured, in a comprehensive set of tests that manipulated key variables, the fitness benefits of male mate choice in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] by measuring egg production in females that were chosen or rejected by males. The results provided significant evidence for male mate choice. In absolute terms, the observed degree of choice increased male fitness by an average of only 1.59 eggs. However, using a novel technique we show that this benefit of choice represented 14.5% of the maximum potential fitness benefit of choice. The magnitude of mate choice was not significantly altered by variation in (1) mate compatibility, (2) phenotypic plasticity in male mate choice, or (3) whether choosing males were preferred or nonpreferred by females. Overall, we show that male mate choice represents a subtle but significant opportunity for sexual selection, and we offer a novel and widely applicable method for quantifying mate choice.
",22834761
0,7227,"[START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] as an experimental organism.
The [START]fruit fly[END] [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] has been used as an experimental organism in studies of genetics since the early 1900s. It is now widely used not only in classical and molecular genetics but also, with many new biochemical, cell biological, and physiological techniques, to research problems requiring a multidisciplinary approach, such as those of developmental biology and neurobiology.
",3131880
0,7227,"Quantitative analysis of antennal mosaic generation in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] by the MARCM system.
Mosaics have been used in [START]Drosophila[END] to study development and to generate mutant structures when a mutant allele is homozygous lethal. New approaches of directed somatic recombination based on FRT/FLP methods, have increased mosaicism rates but likewise multiple clones in the same individual appeared more frequently. Production of single clones could be essential for developmental studies; however, for cell-autonomous gene function studies only the presence of homozygous cells for the target recessive allele is relevant. Herein, we report the number and extension of antennal mosaics generated by the MARCM system at different ages. This information is directed to obtain the appropriated mosaic type for the intended application. By applying heat shock at 10 different developmental stages from 0-12 h to 6-7 days after egg laying, more than 50% of mosaics were obtained from 5,028 adults. Single recombinant clones appeared mainly at early stages while massive recombinant areas were observed with late treatments.
",18543310
0,7227,"Aging of the innate immune response in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Increased activation of the innate immune system is a common feature of aging animals, including mammals and [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. With age, [START]D. melanogaster[END] progressively express higher levels of many antimicrobial peptides. It is unknown, however, whether this pattern reflects age-dependent changes in the function of the immune system itself or arises simply because aged adults have greater cumulative exposure to pathogens. Here we demonstrate that aged [START]D. melanogaster[END] transcribe more antimicrobial diptericin when experimentally exposed to septic bacterial infections. This strong net response in older females is the result of persistent diptericin transcription upon septic exposure, whereas young females rapidly terminate this induction. In contrast to their response to septic exposure, when exposed to killed bacteria aged females have less capacity to induce diptericin. Because this functional capacity of innate immunity declines with age, we conclude that female [START]Drosophila[END] undergo immune senescence. Furthermore, we show that fecundity is reduced by induction of innate immunity via the immune deficiency pathway. Consequently, maximum reproduction will occur when the immune response is tightly controlled in young females, even if this increases infection risk at later ages.
",15771614
0,7227,"Fruit flies for anti-pain drug discovery.
Recent work has indicated that [START]fruit flies[END] ([START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]) can be used in nociception research. Genetic screening identified a gene, painless, that is required for thermal and mechanical nociception in [START]Drosophila[END] larvae. On the other hand, pharmacological techniques and noxious heat were used to assay antinocieceptive behavior in intact adult [START]Drosophila[END]. In general, animal models for pain research are bound by ethical concerns. Since no serious ethical controversies have been raised regarding experiments in insects, [START]Drosophila[END] may be, for the time being an ethically acceptable animal model for combined genetic and pharmacological analgesia research.
",15763072
0,7227,"The bacterial symbiont Wolbachia induces resistance to RNA viral infections in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Wolbachia are vertically transmitted, obligatory intracellular bacteria that infect a great number of species of arthropods and nematodes. In insects, they are mainly known for disrupting the reproductive biology of their hosts in order to increase their transmission through the female germline. In [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], however, a strong and consistent effect of Wolbachia infection has not been found. Here we report that a bacterial infection renders [START]D. melanogaster[END] more resistant to Drosophila C virus, reducing the load of viruses in infected flies. We identify these resistance-inducing bacteria as Wolbachia. Furthermore, we show that Wolbachia also increases resistance of [START]Drosophila[END] to two other RNA virus infections (Nora virus and Flock House virus) but not to a DNA virus infection (Insect Iridescent Virus 6). These results identify a new major factor regulating [START]D. melanogaster[END] resistance to infection by RNA viruses and contribute to the idea that the response of a host to a particular pathogen also depends on its interactions with other microorganisms. This is also, to our knowledge, the first report of a strong beneficial effect of Wolbachia infection in [START]D. melanogaster[END]. The induced resistance to natural viral pathogens may explain Wolbachia prevalence in natural populations and represents a novel Wolbachia-host interaction.
",19222304
0,7227,"The anterior-posterior and dorsal-ventral axes have a common origin in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
The mechanisms governing anterior-posterior and dorsal-ventral polarity in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] had previously been considered as independent processes. However, two papers(1,2) now reveal that both axes are initiated during oogenesis by the same pathway, and also clearly demonstrate that one is dependent on the other.
",8526885
0,7227,"MachiBase: a [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] 5'-end mRNA transcription database.
MachiBase (http://machibase.gi.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp/) provides a comprehensive and freely accessible resource regarding [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] 5'-end mRNA transcription at different developmental states, supporting studies on the variabilities of promoter transcriptional activities and gene-expression profiles in the fruitfly. The data were generated in conjunction with the recently developed high-throughput genome sequencer Illumina/Solexa using a newly developed 5'-end mRNA collection method.
",18842623
0,7227,"Context- and dose-dependent modulatory effects of naringenin on survival and development of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Naringenin, the predominant bioflavonoid found in grapefruit and tomato has diverse bioactive properties that encompass anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic, anti-estrogenic, anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-hyperglycemic characteristics. Naringenin has not been explored for its pro-longevity traits in [START]fruit flies[END]. Therefore, the current study explores its influence on longevity, fecundity, feeding rate, larval development, resistance to starvation stress and body weight in male and female wild-type [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] Canton-S flies. Flies were fed with normal and high fat diets respectively. The results implied hormetic effects of naringenin on longevity and development in flies. In flies fed with standard and high fat diets, lower concentrations of naringenin (200 and 400 microM) augmented mean lifespan while higher concentrations (600 and 800 microM) were consistently lethal. However, enhanced longevity seen at 400 microM of naringenin was at the expense of reduced fecundity and food intake in flies. Larvae reared on standard diet having 200 microM of naringenin exhibited elevated pupation and emergence as flies. Eclosion time was hastened in larvae reared on standard diet having 200 microM of naringenin. Female flies fed with a standard diet having 200 and 400 microM of naringenin were more resistant to starvation stress. Reduction in body weight was observed in male and female flies fed with a high fat diet supplemented with 200 and 400 microM of naringenin respectively. Collectively, the results elucidated a context- and dose-dependent hormetic efficacy of naringenin that varied with gender, diet and stage of lifecycle in flies. 
",26520643
0,7227,"Encapsulation ability of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]: a genetic analysis.
Insects are able to effectively recognize parasitoid eggs or larvae and to eliminate them by formation of a hemocytic capsule. Although the cellular process is now well documented, the genetic aspects of recognition of foreignness and the encapsulation process are still poorly understood. Experiments using the isofemale-strain method showed that the encapsulating ability of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] exercised against a parasitic wasp varies within a given population and that this variability is under partial genetic control.
",3926550
0,7227,"The effects of selective history and environmental heterogeneity on inbreeding depression in experimental populations of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Inbreeding depression varies considerably among populations, but only some aspects of this variation have been thoroughly studied. Because inbreeding depression requires genetic variation, factors that influence the amount of standing variation can affect the magnitude of inbreeding depression. Environmental heterogeneity has long been considered an important contributor to the maintenance of genetic variation, but its effects on inbreeding depression have been largely ignored by empiricists. Here we compare inbreeding depression, measured in two environments, for 20 experimental populations of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] that have been maintained under four different selection regimes, including two types of environmentally homogeneous selection and two types environmentally heterogeneous selection. In line with theory, we find considerably higher inbreeding depression in populations from heterogeneous selection regimes. We also use our data set to test whether inbreeding depression is correlated with either stress or the phenotypic coefficient of variation (CV), as suggested by some recent studies. Though both of these factors are significant predictors of inbreeding depression in our study, there is an effect of assay environment on inbreeding depression that cannot be explained by either stress or CV.
",23535617
0,7227,"Chronic malnutrition favours smaller critical size for metamorphosis initiation in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Critical size at which metamorphosis is initiated represents an important checkpoint in insect development. Here, we use experimental evolution in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] to test the long-standing hypothesis that larval malnutrition should favour a smaller critical size. We report that six fly populations subject to 112 generations of laboratory natural selection on an extremely poor larval food evolved an 18% smaller critical size (compared to six unselected control populations). Thus, even though critical size is not plastic with respect to nutrition, smaller critical size can evolve as an adaptation to nutritional stress. We also demonstrate that this reduction in critical size (rather than differences in growth rate) mediates a trade-off in body weight that the selected populations experience on standard food, on which they show a 15-17% smaller adult body weight. This illustrates how developmental mechanisms that control life history may shape constraints and trade-offs in life history evolution.
",22122120
0,7227,"Symbiotic bacteria are responsible for diet-induced mating preference in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], providing support for the hologenome concept of evolution.
Diet-induced mating preference in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] results from amplification of the commensal bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum, providing a new role for gut microbiota and support for the hologenome concept of evolution. When the flies were treated with antibiotics prior to changing their diet, mating preference did not occur. These data also indicate that other potentially beneficial bacteria could be irreversibly lost by antibiotic treatment and that their replacement could provide a health benefit. We suggest that [START]D. melanogaster[END] can be a useful model organism to study the activities of gut microbiota and their interaction with the immune system.
",21804354
0,7227,"Monitoring the effect of pathogenic nematodes on locomotion of [START]Drosophila[END] larvae.
One of the key factors that determine the interaction between hosts and their parasites is the frequency of their interactions, which depends on the locomotory behavior of both parts. To address host behavior we used natural infections involving insect pathogenic nematodes and [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] larvae as hosts. Using a modified version of a recently described method (FIMTrack) to assess several parameters in larger sets of animals, we initially detected specific differences in larval food searching when comparing [START]Drosophila[END] strains. These differences were further influenced by the presence of nematodes. Given a choice, [START]Drosophila[END] larvae clearly avoided nematodes irrespective of their genetic background. Our newly developed methods will be useful to test candidate genes and pathways involved in host/pathogen interactions in general and to assess specific parameters of their interaction.
",28631995
0,7227,"Genotoxic effects of cisplatin in somatic tissue of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Third instar larvae of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] transdihybrid for mwh and flr were exposed to varying concentrations of cisplatin by feeding on dry media wetted with aqueous solutions of the test compound. Larval feeding continued until pupation, and surviving transdihybrid adults were collected seven days following commencement of feeding. Wings of adults were removed and scored under 400X magnification for the presence of twin spots and single spots comprised of clones of cells possessing malformed wing hairs. Cisplatin was found to induce both twin spots and single spots, and significant (p less than 0.05) linear concentration-response relationships were obtained with respect to the induction of all endpoints. Induction of twin spots demonstrates that cisplatin induces mitotic recombination in the somatic tissue of [START]Drosophila[END] larvae. This capacity to induce mitotic exchange in the somatic tissue of [START]Drosophila[END] compares well with the compound's reported ability to induce chromosome breaks in [START]Drosophila[END] germ cells [Brodberg et al. 1983]. However, not all compounds possess similar genotoxic profiles in the somatic and germ tissue of [START]Drosophila[END].
",3121310
0,7227,"The Effects of Royal Jelly on Fitness Traits and Gene Expression in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Royal Jelly (RJ) is a product made by honey bee workers and is required for queen differentiation and accompanying changes in queen body size, development time, lifespan and reproductive output relative to workers. Previous studies have reported similar changes in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] in response to RJ. Here, we quantified viability, development time, body size, productivity, lifespan and genome wide transcript abundance of [START]D. melanogaster[END] reared on standard culture medium supplemented with increasing concentrations of RJ. We found that lower concentrations of RJ do induce significant differences in body size in both sexes; higher concentrations reduce size, increase mortality, shorten lifespan and reduce productivity. Increased concentrations of RJ also consistently lengthened development time in both sexes. RJ is associated with changes in expression of 1,581 probe sets assessed using Affymetrix [START]Drosophila[END] 2.0 microarrays, which were enriched for genes associated with metabolism and amino acid degradation. The transcriptional changes are consistent with alterations in cellular processes to cope with excess nutrients provided by RJ, including biosynthesis and detoxification, which might contribute to accelerated senescence and reduced lifespan. 
",26226016
0,7227,"Selection for circadian eclosion time in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Early and late eclosion strains were developed from [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] cultures. The Oregon-R parent strains (isolated in 1925) showed significantly more selectability than the W(2) parent strain collected at the beginning of this study (1971). This is consistent with the hypothesis that the selective advantage of circadian behaviors is reduced in laboratory conditions.
",4628524
0,7227,"The immune response of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
The response of the [START]fruit fly[END] [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] to various microorganism infections relies on a multilayered defense. The epithelia constitute a first and efficient barrier. Innate immunity is activated when microorganisms succeed in entering the body cavity of the fly. Invading microorganisms are killed by the combined action of cellular and humoral processes. They are phagocytosed by specialized blood cells, surrounded by toxic melanin, or lysed by antibacterial peptides secreted into the hemolymph by fat body cells. During the last few years, research has focused on the mechanisms of microbial recognition by various pattern recognition receptors and of the subsequent induction of antimicrobial peptide expression. The cellular arm of the [START]Drosophila[END] innate immune system, which was somehow neglected, now constitutes the new frontier.
",15199954
0,7227,"Naturally occurring genetic variation in the age-specific immune response of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Immunosenescence, the age-related decline in immune response, is a well-known consequence of aging. To date, most studies of age-related changes in immune response focused on the cellular and physiological bases of this decline; we have virtually no understanding of the genetic basis of age-related changes in the immune system or if indeed such control exists. We used 25 chromosome substitution lines of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] derived from a natural population to address three questions: (i) How is the function of the innate immune system influenced by age? (ii) Is there a genetic basis for phenotypic variation in immune response at different ages? (iii) Is there a genetic basis for differences in the way that age influences the immune function? Virgin females from each line were assayed for immune response using clearance of infection with Escherichia coli at 1 and 4 weeks of age. We found significant genetic variation among lines in immune response at each age. Unexpectedly, when averaged across all lines, the immune response actually improved with age. However, there was significant variation in the effect of age on immune response with 11 lines showing improvement, nine lines showing no change and five exhibiting a decline with age. There was no genetic correlation of immune response across ages suggesting that different loci contribute to variation in immune response at each age. The genetic component of the variation in immune response increased with age, a pattern predicted by the mutation accumulation model of senescence. However, this increase in variation resulted in part from the improvement of the immune response in some lines with age. Thus the observed changes in genetic variation in immune function with age are not entirely explained by the mutation accumulation model.
",16803580
0,7227,"Hybrid lethal systems in the [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] species complex. II. The Zygotic hybrid rescue (Zhr) gene of [START]D. melanogaster[END].
Hybrid females from Drosophila simulans females x [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] males die as embryos while hybrid males from the reciprocal cross die as larvae. We have recovered a mutation in melanogaster that rescues the former hybrid females. It was located on the X chromosome at a position close to the centromere, and it was a zygotically acting gene, in contrast with mhr (maternal hybrid rescue) in simulans that rescues the same hybrids maternally. We named it Zhr (Zygotic hybrid rescue). The gene also rescues hybrid females from embryonic lethals in crosses of Drosophila mauritiana females x [START]D. melanogaster[END] males and of Drosophila sechellia females x [START]D. melanogaster[END] males. Independence of the hybrid embryonic lethality and the hybrid larval lethality suggested in a companion study was confirmed by employing two rescue genes, Zhr and Hmr (Hybrid male rescue), in doubly lethal hybrids. A model is proposed to explain the genetic mechanisms of hybrid lethalities as well as the evolutionary pathways.
",8436277
0,7227,"Heat shock proteins and aging in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are conserved molecular chaperones that are upregulated following exposure to environmental stress and during aging. The mechanisms underlying the aging process are only beginning to be understood. The beneficial effects of Hsps on aging revealed in mild stress and overexpression experiments suggest that these proteins are part of an important cell protection system rather than being unspecific molecular chaperones. Among the Hsps families, small Hsps have the greatest influence on aging and the modulation of their expression during aging in [START]Drosophila[END] suggest that they are involved in pathways of longevity determination.
",14986859
0,7227,"Correlated responses to selection on body size in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Correlated responses to artificial selection on body size in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] were investigated, to determine how the changes in size were produced during development. Selection for increased thorax length was associated with an increase in larval development time, an extended growth period, no change in growth rate, and an increased critical larval weight for pupariation. Selection for reduced thorax length was associated with reduced growth rate, no change in duration of larval development and a reduced critical larval weight for pupariation. In both lines selected for thorax length and lines selected for wing area, total body size changed in the same direction as the artificially selected trait. In large selection lines of both types, the increase in size was achieved almost entirely by an increase in cell number, while in the small lines the decrease in size was achieved predominantly by reduced cell size, and also by a reduction in cell number. The implications of the results for evolutionary-genetic change in body size in nature are discussed.
",10505406
0,7227,"Programmed cell death and patterning in [START]Drosophila[END].
Selective cell death provides developing tissues with the means to precisely sculpt emerging structures. By imposing patterned cell death across a tissue, boundaries can be created and tightened. As such, programmed cell death is becoming recognized as a major mechanism for patterning of a variety of complex structures. Typically, cell types are initially organized into a fairly loose pattern; selective death then removes cells between pattern elements to create correct structures. In this review, we examine the role of selective cell death across the course of [START]Drosophila[END] development, including the tightening of embryonic segmental boundaries, head maturation, refining adult structures such as the eye and the wing, and the ability of cell death to correct for pattern defects introduced by gene mutation. We also review what is currently known of the relationship between signals at the cell surface that are responsible for tissue patterning and the basal cell death machinery, an issue that remains poorly understood.
",11139279
0,7227,"Interactive effects of social environment, age and sex on immune responses in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Social environments have been shown to have multiple effects on individual immune responses. For example, increased social contact might signal greater infection risk and prompt a prophylactic upregulation of immunity. This differential investment of resources may in part explain why social environments affect ageing and lifespan. Our previous work using [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] showed that single-sex social contact reduced lifespan for both sexes. Here, we assess how social interactions (isolation or contact) affect susceptibility to infection, phagocytotic activity and expression of a subset of immune- and stress-related genes in young and old flies of both sexes. Social contact had a neutral, or even improved, effect on post-infection lifespan in older flies and reduced the expression of stress response genes in females; however, it reduced phagocytotic activity. Overall, the effects of social environment were complex and largely subtle and do not indicate a consistent effect. Together, these findings indicate that social contact in [START]D. melanogaster[END] does not have a predictable impact on immune responses and does not simply trade-off immune investment with lifespan.
",31313398
0,7227,"External control of the [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] egg to imago development period by specific combinations of 3D low-frequency electric and magnetic fields.
We report that the duration of the egg-to-imago development period of the [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], and the imago longevity, are both controllable by combinations of external 3-dimensional (3D) low-frequency electric and magnetic fields (LFEMFs). Both these periods may be reduced or increased by applying an appropriate configuration of external 3D LFEMFs. We report that the longevity of [START]D. melanogaster[END] imagoes correlates with the duration of the egg-to-imago development period of the respective eggs. We infer that metabolic processes in both eggs and imago are either accelerated (resulting in reduced time periods) or slowed down (resulting in increased time periods). We propose that external 3D LFEMFs induce electric currents in live systems as well as mechanical vibrations on sub-cell, whole-cell and cell-group levels. These external fields induce media polarization due to ionic motion and orientation of electric dipoles that could moderate the observed effects. We found that the longevity of [START]D. melanogaster[END] imagoes is affected by action of 3D LFEMFs on the respective eggs in the embryonic development period (EDP). We interpret this effect as resulting from changes in the regulation mechanism of metabolic processes in [START]D. melanogaster[END] eggs, inherited by the resulting imagoes. We also tested separate effects of either 3D electric or 3D magnetic fields, which were significantly weaker. 
",25259623
0,7227,"Latitudinal clines in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]: body size, allozyme frequencies, inversion frequencies, and the insulin-signalling pathway.
Many latitudinal clines exist in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]: in adult body size, in allele frequency at allozyme loci, and in frequencies of common cosmopolitan inversions. The question is raised whether these latitudinal clines are causally related. This review aims to connect data from two very different fields of study, evolutionary biology and cell biology, in explaining such natural genetic variation in [START]D. melanogaster[END] body size and development time. It is argued that adult body size clines, inversion frequency clines, and clines in allele frequency at loci involved in glycolysis and glycogen storage are part of the same adaptive strategy. Selection pressure is expected to differ at opposite ends of the clines. At high latitudes, selection on [START]D. melanogaster[END] would favour high larval growth rate at low temperatures, and resource storage in adults to survive winter. At low latitudes selection would favour lower larval critical size to survive crowding, and increased male activity leading to high male reproductive success. Studies of the insulin-signalling pathway in [START]D. melanogaster[END] point to the involvement of this pathway in metabolism and adult body size. The genes involved in the insulin-signalling pathway are associated with common cosmopolitan inversions that show latitudinal clines. Each chromosome region connected with a large common cosmopolitan inversion possesses a gene of the insulin transmembrane complex, a gene of the intermediate pathway and a gene of the TOR branch. The hypothesis is presented that temperate [START]D. melanogaster[END] populations have a higher frequency of a 'thrifty' genotype corresponding to high insulin level or high signal level, while tropical populations possess a more 'spendthrift' genotype corresponding to low insulin or low signal level.
",15133196
0,7227,"Insights from intoxicated [START]Drosophila[END].
Our understanding of alcohol use disorder (AUD), particularly alcohol's effects on the nervous system, has unquestionably benefited from the use of model systems such as [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. Here, we briefly introduce the use of flies in alcohol research, and highlight the genetic accessibility and neurobiological contribution that flies have made to our understanding of AUD. Future fly research offers unique opportunities for addressing unresolved questions in the alcohol field, such as the neuromolecular and circuit basis for cravings and alcohol-induced neuroimmune dysfunction. This review strongly advocates for interdisciplinary approaches and translational collaborations with the united goal of confronting the major health problems associated with alcohol abuse and addiction.
",29980341
0,7227,"Setting the clock--by nature: circadian rhythm in the fruitfly [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Nowadays humans mainly rely on external, unnatural clocks such as of cell phones and alarm clocks--driven by circuit boards and electricity. Nevertheless, our body is under the control of another timer firmly anchored in our genes. This evolutionary very old biological clock drives most of our physiology and behavior. The genes that control our internal clock are conserved among most living beings. One organism that shares this ancient clock mechanism with us humans is the fruitfly [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. Since it turned out that [START]Drosophila[END] is an excellent model, it is no surprise that its clock is very well and intensely investigated. In the following review we want to display an overview of the current understanding of [START]Drosophila[END]'s circadian clock.
",21354415
0,7227,"Concomitant changes in radiation resistance and trehalose levels during life stages of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] suggest radio-protective function of trehalose.
PURPOSE: During development, various life stages of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] ([START]D. melanogaster[END]) show different levels of resistance to gamma irradiation, with the early pupal stage being the most radiation sensitive. This provides us an opportunity to explore the biochemical basis of such variations. The present study was carried out to understand the mechanisms underlying radiation resistance during life stages of [START]D. melanogaster[END]. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Homogenates from all the life stages of [START]D. melanogaster[END] were prepared at stipulated age. These homogenates were used for the determination of (1) enzymatic antioxidants: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, [START]D. melanogaster[END] glutathione peroxidase (DmGPx), and glutathione S-transferase (GST); (2) reducing non-enzymatic antioxidants: total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reduced glutathione (GSH) and non-reducing non-enzymatic antioxidant trehalose; and (3) levels of protein carbonyl (PC) content. Age-dependent changes in radiation resistance and associated biochemical changes were also studied in young (2 d) and old (20 and 30 d) flies. RESULTS: TAC and GSH were found high in the early pupal stage, whereas catalase and DmGPx were found to increase in the early pupal stage. The non-feeding third instar (NFTI) larvae were found to have high levels of SOD and GST, besides NFTI larvae showed high levels of trehalose. A remarkable decrease was observed in radiation resistance and trehalose levels during the early pupal stage. The PC level was the highest during early pupal stage and was the lowest in NFTI larvae. Older flies showed high level of PC compared with young flies. CONCLUSION: In vitro increments in trehalose concentration correspond to reduced formation of PCs, suggesting a protective role of trehalose against free radicals. A strong correlation between levels of trehalose and PC formation suggests amelioration of proteome damage due to ionizing radiation (IR). Stages with high trehalose levels showed protected proteome and high radiation resistance, suggesting a significant role for this disaccharide in radiation resistance.
",29613812
0,7227,"Measuring thermal behavior in smaller insects: A case study in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] demonstrates effects of sex, geographic origin, and rearing temperature on adult behavior.
Measuring thermal behavior in smaller insects is particularly challenging. In this study, we describe a new horizontal thermal gradient apparatus designed to study adult thermal behavior in small insects and apply it using [START]D. melanogaster[END] as a model and case study. Specifically, we used this apparatus and associated methodology to examine the effects of sex, geographic origin, and developmental rearing temperature on temperature preferences exhibited by adults in a controlled laboratory environment. The thermal gradient established by the apparatus was stable over diurnal and calendar time. Furthermore, the distribution of adult flies across thermal habitats within the apparatus remained stable following the period of acclimation, as evidenced by the high degree of repeatability across both biological and technical replicates. Our data demonstrate significant and predictable variation in temperature preference for all 3 assayed variables. Behaviorally, females were more sensitive than males to higher temperatures. Flies originating from high latitude, temperate populations exhibited a greater preference for cooler temperatures; conversely, flies originating from low latitude, tropical habitats demonstrated a relative preference for higher temperatures. Similarly, larval rearing temperature was positively associated with adult thermal behavior: low culture temperatures increased the relative adult preference for cooler temperatures, and this response was distinct between the sexes and for flies from the temperate and subtropical geographic regions. Together, these results demonstrate that the temperature chamber apparatus elicits robust, predictable, and quantifiable thermal preference behavior that could readily be applied to other taxa to examine the role of temperature-mediated behavior in a variety of contexts.
",27230726
0,7227,"The regulation of organ size in [START]Drosophila[END]: physiology, plasticity, patterning and physical force.
The correct regulation of organ size is a fundamental developmental process, the failure of which can compromise organ function and organismal integrity. Consequently, the mechanisms that regulate organ size have been subject to intense research. This research has highlighted four classes of mechanism that are involved in organ size regulation: physiology, plasticity, patterning and physical force. Nevertheless, how these mechanisms are integrated and converge on the cellular process that regulate organ growth is unknown. One group of animals where this integration is beginning to be achieved is in the insects. Here, I review the different mechanisms that regulate organ size in insects, and describe our current understanding of how these mechanisms interact. The genes and hormones involved are remarkably conserved in all animals, so these studies in insects provide a precedent for future research on organ size regulation in mammals.
",20885854
0,7227,"Sexual activity increases resistance against Pseudomonas entomophila in male [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
BACKGROUND: Maintenance and deployment cost of immunity is high, therefore, it is expected to trade-off with other high cost traits like sexual activity. Previous studies with [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] show that male's ability to clear bacteria decreases with increase in sexual activity. We subjected this idea to test using two pathogens (Pseudomonas entomophila and Staphylococcus succinus) and three different populations of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. RESULTS: We found that sexual activity enhanced male survivorship in a pathogen specific manner. Sexually active males show higher resistance than virgins upon infection with Pseudomonas entomophila. Interestingly, the beneficial effects of sexual activity increased with time of co-habitation with females and declined when access to females was restricted. We observed no change in male survivorship upon experimentally varying the number of sexual interactions. CONCLUSION: Our results show that the sexual activity-immunity trade-off in males cannot be generalised. The trade-off is potentially mediated through complex interactions between the host, pathogen and the environment experienced by the host.
",24010544
0,7227,"Regulation of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] pro-apoptotic gene hid.
Key decisions one makes in a lifetime include whether and how often to reproduce, what role to play in the community and, under certain conditions, whether to live or die. Similar decisions are also made at the level of cells: whether to divide, what fate to assume in the multicellular context of metazoan development and, under certain conditions, whether to live or to die. The pro-apoptotic gene hid plays an important role in the execution of cell death in [START]Drosophila[END]. Here, we review the various levels of control that exist to regulate Hid according to the life-or-death choice of a cell.
",19554451
0,7227,"Larval competition in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. I. Estimation of larval growth parameters.
Despite extensive research into the competitive interactions between the larvae of [START]Drosophila[END] for food, there have been few studies of the biological characteristics of the larvae which might underly competition. Here we present a sensitive method for estimating the larval feeding rate, larval gut capacity, larval conversion efficiency and larva-adult conversion efficiency, using radioactively labelled yeast. Two developmental stages, defined by the time since oviposition, were investigated in eight genetically distinct strains of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. Significant genetic variation was recovered for all parameters at the second instar but only for conversion efficiency at the third instar. Feeding rate and the gut capacity had large and heterogenous error variances, especially in the third instar, while conversion efficiencies were relatively more stable.
",3130339
0,7227,"Nitric oxide and [START]Drosophila[END] development.
Mechanisms controlling the transition of precursor cells from proliferation to differentiation during organism development determine the distinct anatomical features of tissues and organs. NO may mediate such a transition since it can suppress DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. Inhibition of NOS activity in the imaginal discs of [START]Drosophila[END] larvae results in hypertrophy of tissues and organs of the adult fly, whereas ectopic overexpression of NOS has the reciprocal, hypotrophic, effect. Furthermore, NO production is crucial for the establishment of ordered neuronal connections in the visual system of the fly, indicating that NO affects the acquisition of the differentiated phenotype by the neural tissue. Increasing evidence points to a broad role that NO may play in animal development by acting as an essential negative regulator of precursor cell proliferation during tissue and organ morphogenesis.
",10556972
0,7227,"Spectral sensitivity of wild-type and mutant [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] larvae.
Wild-type (Canton-S) [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] larvae are generally repelled by white light. Mutant larval photokinesis A (lphA) larvae are less strongly repelled than controls. Mutant Larval photokinesis B (LphB) larvae are unresponsive to light, as are larvae from LI2, an isofemale line whose progenitors were recently derived from a natural population. To characterize the behavior of larvae from the mutant stocks and the isofemale line more precisely, we determined the range of wavelengths that repel wild-type (Canton-S) [START]D. melanogaster[END] larvae and identified wavelengths to which larvae are most sensitive. In comparison to adult flies, Canton-S larvae are much less sensitive to white light and respond to a narrower range of wavelengths. The wavelengths to which Canton-S larvae are maximally sensitive are 500 nm (green), 420 nm (indigo), and 380 nm (ultraviolet). Mutant lphA larvae respond abnormally to green and indigo light but are as strongly repelled by ultraviolet light as controls. In contrast, mutant LphB larvae and larvae from the LI2 isofemale line are unresponsive to green, indigo, or ultraviolet light. Thus, lphA larvae have a wavelength-specific defect, while LphB and LI2 larvae are generally unresponsive to wavelengths that repel wild-type larvae.
",10928215
0,7227,"Methods to Assay the Behavior of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] for Toxicity Study.
[START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], the [START]fruit fly[END], has been widely used in biological investigation as an invertebrate alternative to mammals for its various advantages compared to other model organisms, which include short life cycle, easy handling, high prolificacy, and great availability of substantial genetic information. The behavior of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] is closely related to its growth, which can reflect the physiological conditions of [START]Drosophila[END]. We have optimized simple and robust behavioral assays for determining the larvae survival, adult climbing ability (mobility assay), reproductive behavior, and lifespan of [START]Drosophila[END]. In this chapter, we present the step-by-step detailed method for studying [START]Drosophila[END] behavior.
",34097260
0,7227,"Physiological and metabolic consequences of viral infection in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
An extensively used model system for investigating anti-pathogen defence and innate immunity involves Drosophila C virus (DCV) and [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. While there has been a significant effort to understand infection consequences at molecular and genetic levels, an understanding of fundamental higher-level physiology of this system is lacking. Here, we investigate the metabolic rate, locomotory activity, dry mass and water content of adult male flies injected with DCV, measured over the 4 days prior to virus-induced mortality. DCV infection resulted in multiple pathologies, notably the depression of metabolic rate beginning 2 days post-infection as a response to physiological stress. Even in this depressed metabolic state, infected flies did not decrease their activity until 1 day prior to mortality, which further suggests that cellular processes and synthesis are disrupted because of viral infection. Growth rate was also reduced, indicating that energy partitioning is altered as infection progresses. Microbial infection in insects typically results in an increase in excretion; however, water appeared to be retained in DCV-infected flies. We hypothesise that this is due to a fluid intake-output imbalance due to disrupted transport signalling and a reduced rate of metabolic processing. Furthermore, infected flies had a reduced rate of respiration as a consequence of metabolic depression, which minimised water loss, and the excess mass as a result of water retention is concurrent with impaired locomotory ability. These findings contribute to developing a mechanistic understanding of how pathologies accumulate and lead to mortality in infected flies. 
",23685974
0,7227,"Chronic exposure to dim artificial light at night decreases fecundity and adult survival in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
The presence of artificial light at night is expanding in geographical range and increasing in intensity to such an extent that species living in urban environments may never experience natural darkness. The negative ecological consequences of artificial night lighting have been identified in several key life history traits across multiple taxa (albeit with a strong vertebrate focus); comparable data for invertebrates is lacking. In this study, we explored the effect of chronic exposure to different night-time lighting intensities on growth, reproduction and survival in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. We reared three generations of flies under identical daytime light conditions (2600lx) and one of four ecologically relevant ALAN treatments (0, 1, 10 or 100lx), then explored variation in oviposition, number of eggs produced, juvenile growth and survival and adult survival. We found that, in the presence of light at night (1, 10 and 100lx treatments), the probability of a female commencing oviposition and the number of eggs laid was significantly reduced. This did not translate into differences at the juvenile phase: juvenile development times and the probability of eclosing as an adult were comparable across all treatments. However, we demonstrate for the first time a direct link between chronic exposure to light at night (greater than 1lx) and adult survival. Our data highlight that ALAN has the capacity to cause dramatic shifts in multiple life history traits at both the individual and population level. Such shifts are likely to be species-specific, however a more in depth understanding of the broad-scale impact of ALAN and the relevant mechanisms driving biological change is urgently required as we move into an increasing brightly lit future.
",28499591
0,7227,"Differential effects of genetic vs. environmental quality in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] suggest multiple forms of condition dependence.
Condition is a central concept in evolutionary ecology, but the roles of genetic and environmental quality in condition-dependent trait expression remain poorly understood. Theory suggests that condition integrates genetic, epigenetic and somatic factors, and therefore predicts alignment between the phenotypic effects of genetic and environmental quality. To test this key prediction, we manipulated both genetic (mutational) and environmental (dietary) quality in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] and examined responses in morphological and chemical (cuticular hydrocarbon, CHC) traits in both sexes. While the phenotypic effects of diet were consistent among genotypes, effects of mutation load varied in magnitude and direction. Average effects of diet and mutation were aligned for most morphological traits, but non-aligned for the male sexcombs and CHCs in both sexes. Our results suggest the existence of distinct forms of condition dependence, one integrating both genetic and environmental effects and the other purely environmental. We propose a model to account for these observations. 
",25649176
0,7227,"Deleterious mutations show increasing negative effects with age in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
BACKGROUND: In order for aging to evolve in response to a declining strength of selection with age, a genetic architecture that allows for mutations with age-specific effects on organismal performance is required. Our understanding of how selective effects of individual mutations are distributed across ages is however poor. Established evolutionary theories assume that mutations causing aging have negative late-life effects, coupled to either positive or neutral effects early in life. New theory now suggests evolution of aging may also result from deleterious mutations with increasing negative effects with age, a possibility that has not yet been empirically explored. RESULTS: To directly test how the effects of deleterious mutations are distributed across ages, we separately measure age-specific effects on fecundity for each of 20 mutations in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. We find that deleterious mutations in general have a negative effect that increases with age and that the rate of increase depends on how deleterious a mutation is early in life. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that aging does not exclusively depend on genetic variants assumed by the established evolutionary theories of aging. Instead, aging can result from deleterious mutations with negative effects that amplify with age. If increasing negative effect with age is a general property of deleterious mutations, the proportion of mutations with the capacity to contribute towards aging may be considerably larger than previously believed.
",32993647
0,7227,"[Symbiotic bacteria, which modify reproduction processes of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]].
Cytoplasmic bacteria-symbionts are actively investigated all over the world for the last ten years. The scale of their spreading in natural and laboratory populations of invertebrates, especially arthropods, is impressing scientists' imagination. Ways of their intraspecific and interspecific transmission are various. The nature and mechanisms of their interaction both between themselves and with their hosts are extremely diverse. Cytoplasmic incompatibility, parthenogenesis, male-killing, feminization, tissue degeneration and others are those phenotypic effects, which intracellular bacteria can cause in their hosts. Moreover, the same bacterium can have diverse influences on different hosts. So it is possible to talk about many-sidedness of endosymbiont interaction with a host, which is determined both by bacterium and host biology. However, majority of phenotypic effects is directed to the successful colonization of hosts' populations by increasing the number of infected females. Alas, the mechanisms of interaction are still not enough investigated. Besides, intracellular bacteria-symbionts can be one of the factors of the so-called ""infectious species formation"". In any investigation, model organisms, [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] belonging to them, take a special place. Among [START]drosophila[END]'s endosymbionts, only bacteria from genera Wolbachia, Spiroplasma and Cardinium were broadly investigated: their spreading in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] populations all over the world, the infecting level and those phenotypic effects, which they can cause. So this review is dedicated to analysis of these studies.
",21598659
0,7227,"Functional analysis of the SUMOylation pathway in [START]Drosophila[END].
SUMOylation, a reversible process used as a 'fine-tuning' mechanism to regulate the role of multiple proteins, is conserved throughout evolution. This post-translational modification affects several cellular processes by the modulation of subcellular localization, activity or stability of a variety of substrates. A growing number of proteins have been identified as targets for SUMOylation, although, for many of them, the role of SUMO conjugation on their function is unknown. The use of model systems might facilitate the study of SUMOylation implications in vivo. In the present paper, we have compiled what is known about SUMOylation in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], where the use of genetics provides new insights on SUMOylation's biological roles.
",18793153
0,7227,"Conjugated Linoleic Acid Regulates Body Composition and Locomotor Activity in a Sex-Dependent Manner in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been reported to be a bioactive food component. However, there is limited knowledge on the sex-dependent effects of CLA on energy metabolism. In the present study, [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] was used to investigate the sex-dependent effects of CLA with respect to body fat, muscle, locomotion, and a key metabolic regulator, AMP-activated protein kinase alpha (AMPKalpha). Adult flies were fed a cornmeal-based fly food with 0.5% of CLA oil (50:50 of cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10,cis-12 CLA isomers in triacylglycerol (TAG) form), 0.5% safflower oil (high in linoleic acid [LNA] as control), or 0.5% water (as blank) for 5 days. Accumulation of CLA in tissue was verified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. CLA-fed flies had reduced TAG and increased locomotor activity when compared to LNA-fed control flies. In addition, CLA increased the muscle content when compared to the blank. Moreover, following CLA supplementation, increased AMPKalpha activity was observed in females, but not in males. These sex-dependent metabolic effects of CLA may be due to physiological differences in lipid metabolism and nutrient requirements. In conclusion, CLA promoted the body composition and locomotion behavior in [START]D. melanogaster[END] and regulated the sex-specific metabolism in part via AMPKalpha. As key physiological processes are conserved between fly and human, information obtained from this research could provide valuable insights into sex-dependent responses to CLA in humans.
",30334268
0,7227,"Analysis of the cell division cycle in [START]Drosophila[END].
[START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] presents in an unparalleled opportunity to study the regulation of the cell division cycle in the context of cellular differentiation, growth regulation and the development of a multicellular organism. The complexity of [START]Drosophila[END] cell cycles and the large number of techniques available can, however, be overwhelming. We aim to provide here (1) an overview of cell cycle regulation and techniques in [START]Drosophila[END] and (2) a detailed description of techniques we recently used to study embryonic mitoses.
",17189862
0,7227,"Selection for resistance to a fungal pathogen in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
An artificial selection experiment designed to explore the evolution of resistance to a fungal pathogen, Beauveria bassiana, in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] is reported here. The experiment was designed to test whether there is sufficient additive genetic variation in this trait for increased resistance to evolve, and, if so, whether there are correlated responses that might represent a cost to defence. After 15 generations of selection, flies from selected lines did not have higher overall fitness after infection compared with control lines. The response to selection for resistance against this pathogen is thus much weaker than against other species, in particular, parasitoids. There was, however, evidence for increased late-life fecundity in selected lines, which may indicate evolved tolerance of fungal infection. This increase was accompanied by reduced early-life fitness, which may reflect the well-known trade-off between early and late reproduction. In the absence of fungal infection, selected flies had lower fitness than control flies, and the possibility that this is also a trade-off with increased tolerance is explored.
",18301441
0,7227,"Genetics of life history in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. II. Exploratory selection experiments.
two types of small-scale selection experiments were performed. (1) Artificial selection experiments were performed on age-specific female fecundity. Selection for early fecundity over three generations produced a statistically detectable direct response. There was no detectable indirect response in other life-history characters. Selection for late fecundity over three generations did not produce any detectable direct response. Indirect responses were detected: early egg-laying decreased and longevity increased. (2) Natural selection for late-age fitness components increased late fecundity, female longevity, and the duration of female reproduction, while early fecundity and mean egg-laying rate decreased.
",6790341
0,7227,"Metabolomics profiling reveals the mechanism of caffeic acid in extending lifespan in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Caffeic acid is a phenolic compound widely synthesized by plants, which has shown health benefits for multiple aging-related diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the life-extending effect of caffeic acid and its underlying mechanisms. The effects of caffeic acid on lifespan, climbing behavior, starvation resistance, and heat sensitivity of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] ([START]D. melanogaster[END]) were evaluated. 1H-NMR-based metabolomics and biochemical detection were performed to explore the potential mechanisms. The results demonstrated that supplementation with caffeic acid extended the lifespan, and improved climbing behavior and stress resistance in [START]D. melanogaster[END]. Additionally, continuous supplementation with caffeic acid caused the metabolic profile of 30-day [START]D. melanogaster[END] closer to that of 3-day [START]D. melanogaster[END], among which 17 differential metabolites were significantly regulated by caffeic acid, involved in amino acid metabolism and mitochondrial metabolism. Furthermore, caffeic acid significantly prevented oxidative damage and improved mitochondrial function. Correlation analysis indicated that the differential metabolites regulated by caffeic acid were correlated with its antioxidant effect and mitochondrial improvement function. In conclusion, our data support that caffeic acid could extend lifespan in [START]D. melanogaster[END] through regulation of metabolic abnormality and improvement of mitochondrial function.
",32966485
0,7227,"The indole alkaloid tryptamine impairs reproduction in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
The plant-produced indole alkaloid tryptamine is one of a large array of neuroactive substances that may affect insect behavior, development, and physiology. We tested the role of tryptamine on insect reproduction using the [START]fruit fly[END], [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] (Meigen), as a model system. Measurements were made of reproductive success, oviposition rate, and preadult survival of insects on artificial diets containing tryptamine, its precursor tryptophan, as well as glycine and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine). [START]Drosophila[END] reproduction was reduced to 15% of controls when adult insects mated and the young were allowed to develop on medium containing 75 mM tryptamine. Tryptamine-induced depression in reproductive success was due to decreased oviposition rate and preadult survival. Serotonin, but not tryptophan or glycine, also reduced oviposition rate. Preference tests indicated that tryptamine may act as an antiattractant or antifeedant in this species. The accumulation of the indole alkaloid tryptamine in plants may provide a mechanism for reducing insect reproduction, which is potentially useful in protecting crop plants.
",9725032
0,7227,"Binucleation of Accessory Gland Lobe Contributes to Effective Ejection of Seminal Fluid in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
The adult male accessory gland in insects is an internal reproductive organ analogous to the mammalian prostate, and secretes various components in the seminal fluid. Products of the accessory gland in the [START]fruit fly[END] [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] are known to control reproductive behaviors in mated females, such as food uptake, oviposition rate, and rejection of re-mating with other males, all of which increase male reproductive capacity. Production of larger amounts of accessory gland products is thus thought to result in higher male reproductive success. The epithelium of the [START]Drosophila[END] accessory gland lobe is composed of a unique population of binucleate cells. We previously predicted, based on measurements of cell size in mono/binucleate mosaic accessory glands, that binucleation results in a higher plasticity in cell shape, enabling more effective ejection of seminal fluid. However, the actual effect of binucleation on ejection of seminal fluid or reproductive capacity remained unclear, as we were unable to generate an organ with uniformly mononucleate cells. In the present study, we generated organs in which most of the epithelial cells are mononucleate by manipulating aurora B or fizzy-related to block binucleation. Mononucleation resulted in a less elastic accessory gland lobe, which decreased ejection volume and the oviposition of mated females; these effects were particularly pronounced over the long term. These results suggest that binucleation in accessory gland epithelial cells contributes to higher plasticity in the volume of this organ, and enhances male reproductive success through enabling ejection of larger amounts of seminal fluid.
",30298781
0,7227,"Enterococci Mediate the Oviposition Preference of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] through Sucrose Catabolism.
Sucrose, one of the main products of photosynthesis in plants, functions as a universal biomarker for nutritional content and maturity of different fruits across diverse ecological niches. [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] congregates to lay eggs in rotting fruits, yet the factors that influence these decisions remains uncovered. Here, we report that lactic acid bacteria Enterococci are critical modulators to attract [START]Drosophila[END] to lay eggs on decaying food. [START]Drosophila[END]-associated Enterococci predominantly catabolize sucrose for growing their population in fly food, and thus generate a unique ecological niche with depleted sucrose, but enriched bacteria. Female flies navigate these favorable oviposition sites by probing the sucrose cue with their gustatory sensory neurons. Acquirement of indigenous microbiota facilitated the development and systemic growth of [START]Drosophila[END], thereby benefiting the survival and fitness of their offspring. Thus, our finding highlights the pivotal roles of commensal bacteria in influencing host behavior, opening the door to a better understanding of the ecological relationships between the microbial and metazoan worlds.
",29044155
0,7227,"Growth and size control during development.
The size and shape of organs are characteristic for each species. Even when organisms develop to different sizes due to varying environmental conditions, such as nutrition, organ size follows species-specific rules of proportionality to the rest of the body, a phenomenon referred to as allometry. Therefore, for a given environment, organs stop growth at a predictable size set by the species's genotype. How do organs stop growth? How can related species give rise to organs of strikingly different size? No definitive answer has been given to date. One of the major models for the studies of growth termination is the vinegar fly [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. Therefore, this review will focus mostly on work carried out in [START]Drosophila[END] to try to tease apart potential mechanisms and identify routes for further investigation. One general rule, found across the animal kingdom, is that the rate of growth declines with developmental time. Therefore, answers to the problem of growth termination should explain this seemingly universal fact. In addition, growth termination is intimately related to the problems of robustness (i.e. precision) and plasticity in organ size, symmetric and asymmetric organ development, and of how the 'target' size depends on extrinsic, environmental factors.
",29142108
0,7227,"[START]Drosophila[END] Neurobiology: No Escape from 'Big Data' Science.
Combining a variety of large-scale, data-intensive techniques, a recent study has unraveled the neural pathways involved in [START]Drosophila[END] larval escape from a parasitoid wasp invasion. 
",26196487
0,7227,"Transcriptional effects of a positive feedback circuit in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
BACKGROUND: Synthetic systems that use positive feedback have been developed to control human disease vectors and crop pests. The tTAV system, which has been deployed in several insect species, relies on a positive feedback circuit that can be inhibited via dietary tetracycline. Although insects carrying tTAV fail to survive until adulthood in the absence of tetracycline, the exact reason for its lethality, as well as the transcriptomic effects of an active positive feedback circuit, remain unknown. RESULTS: We engineered the tTAV system in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] and investigated the effects of tTAV genome integration locus on the whole fly transcriptome during larval and adult life stages in four transgenic fly strains using gene expression microarrays. We found that while there were widespread effects on the transcriptome, the gene expression differences after removal of tetracycline were not consistent between integration sites. No specific region of the genome was affected, no common set of genes or pathways, nor did the integration site affect the transcripts in cis. CONCLUSION: Although the positive feedback tTAV system is effective at killing insect larvae regardless of where it is inserted in the genome, it does not exhibit a specific, consistent transcriptional signature. Instead, each insertion site is associated with broad, but different, transcriptional effects. Our results suggest that lethality may not be caused by a direct effect on transcription of a set of key genes or pathways. Instead, we propose that rather than a specific action of a tTAV protein, it is the stochastic transcriptional effects specific to each insertion site that contribute to the tTAV-induced mortality.
",29281970
0,7227,"Analysis of [START]Drosophila[END] nervous system development following an early, brief exposure to ethanol.
The effects of ethanol on neural function and development have been studied extensively, motivated in part by the addictive properties of alcohol and the neurodevelopmental deficits that arise in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Absent from this research area is a genetically tractable system to study the effects of early ethanol exposure on later neurodevelopmental and behavioral phenotypes. Here, we used embryos of the [START]fruit fly[END], [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], as a model system to investigate the neuronal defects that arise after an early exposure to ethanol. We found several disruptions of neural development and morphology following a brief ethanol exposure during embryogenesis and subsequent changes in larval behavior. Altogether, this study establishes a new system to examine the effects of alcohol exposure in embryos and the potential to conduct large-scale genetics screens to uncover novel factors that sensitize or protect neurons to the effects of alcohol.
",31472090
0,7227,"Stress tolerance and metabolic response to stress in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
A potentially important physiological response to stress may be alteration in the gross regulation of energy metabolism. Different genotypes may respond differently to environmental stress, and the variation in these norms of reaction may be of key importance to the maintenance of genetic variation in metabolic traits. In the study reported here, a set of genetically defined lines of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] were exposed to four stresses (acetic acid, ethanol, starvation and thermal stress) in order to assess the magnitude of environmental effects and genotype x environment interactions. In addition to scoring metabolic traits, distributions of survival times under each stress were also quantified. Although both metabolic traits and survival times exhibited strong differences among genotypes, the correlations between enzyme traits and survival were generally weak. Many of the genetic correlations exhibit significant heterogeneity across environments. The results suggest that transient environmental stress may play an important role in the evolution of this highly intercorrelated set of metabolic traits.
",9881451
0,7227,"Intestinal inflammation and stem cell homeostasis in aging [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
As a barrier epithelium, the intestinal epithelium has to coordinate physiological functions like digestion and nutrient resorption with the control of commensal bacteria and the prevention of pathogenic infections. It can therefore mount powerful innate immune and inflammatory responses, while, at the same time, maintaining tissue homeostasis through regenerative processes. How these different functions are coordinated remains unclear, and further insight is required to understand the age-related loss of homeostasis in this system, as well as the etiology of inflammatory and proliferative diseases of the gut. Recent work in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] has provided important new insight into the regulation of regenerative activity, innate immune homeostasis, commensal control, as well as age-related dysfunction in the intestine. Interestingly, many of the identified processes and mechanisms mirror similar homeostatic processes in the vertebrate intestine. This review summarized the current understanding of how innate immune responses, changes in commensal bacteria, and other challenges influence regenerative activity in the aging intestinal epithelium of flies and draws parallels to similar processes in mammals. 
",24380076
0,7227,"[Development of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] in space flight].
The review deals with the available literary data on different aspects of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] vital functions in the conditions of real and modeled microgravity. The developmental stages, embryogenesis and aging, specifically, and behavioral reactions are discussed. The presented results of morphological as well as molecular genetic analyses are indicative of structural changes in early [START]Drosophila[END] embryos and their compensation during subsequent development, and formation of an adaptive gene-expression pattern in microgravity.
",25163332
0,7227,"Locomotor performance of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]: interactions among developmental and adult temperatures, age, and geography.
We explored the extent to which a phenotypic trait (walking speed) of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] is influenced by population, developmental temperature, adult temperature, and age. Our goals were to estimate the importance of these factors and to test the beneficial acclimation hypothesis. We measured speed of flies from two populations (the Congo and France) that developed at different temperatures (18, 25, and 29 degrees C) and were tested at different temperatures (18, 25, and 29 degrees C) and ages (2, 7, 13 days). Not surprisingly, speed increased strongly with test temperature. Speed was generally greatest for flies reared at an intermediate developmental temperature, contrary to the beneficial acclimation hypothesis, which predicts that speed would be greatest when influenced by interactions involving population. For example, speed was greatest for flies from France that developed at a low temperature, but for flies from the Congo that developed at a high temperature. The impact of developmental temperature declined with age. Surprisingly, speed actually increased with age for flies raised and maintained at a low temperature, but decreased with age for flies raised and maintained at an intermediate or at a high temperature. Thus, walking performance is highly dynamic phenotypically, complicating potential attempts to predict responses to selection on performance.
",11263741
0,7227,"Influence of temperature on the inheritance of adult life span in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Mating experiments were performed at 27 degrees C, 22 degrees C, and 17 degrees C, to investigate the inheritance of adult life span of highly inbred strains of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. Effects of temperature difference were quantitatively analyzed at the genotypic level. In the temperature range of 17-27 degrees C the autosomal longevity alleles, A1 and A2, exerted major effects. Their effects produced longer life spans as the temperature decreased. The sex-linked longevity alleles, X1 and X2, played a secondary role in influencing life span, and they displayed different effects at different temperatures. Each genotype showed correspondence to the life span expected from the combinations of these longevity genes at the respective temperatures. The genetic loci controlling life span in these inbred strains were named JmA and JmX from ""Ju-myo"" which means life span or longevity in Japanese.
",2114381
0,7227,"Regulative interactions between cells from different imaginal disks of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
The regulative behavior of cells from the imaginal wing disk of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] can be modified by interaction with cells from different disk types. Both thoracic and nonthoracic disks are able to interact, but there are major differences in the effectiveness of interaction. The finding lends experimental support to the idea that cells in different fields within the same organism use the same mechanism for specifying positional information. A similar conclusion has been reached by Wilcox and Smith based on studies of the mutation wingless.
",98843
0,7227,"Stage-specific effects of candidate heterochronic genes on variation in developmental time along an altitudinal cline of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
BACKGROUND: Previously, we have shown there is clinal variation for egg-to-adult developmental time along geographic gradients in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. Further, we also have identified mutations in genes involved in metabolic and neurogenic pathways that affect development time (heterochronic genes). However, we do not know whether these loci affect variation in developmental time in natural populations. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here, we constructed second chromosome substitution lines from natural populations of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] from an altitudinal cline, and measured egg-adult development time for each line. We found not only a large amount of genetic variation for developmental time, but also positive associations of the development time with thermal amplitude and altitude. We performed genetic complementation tests using substitution lines with the longest and shortest developmental times and heterochronic mutations. We identified segregating variation for neurogenic and metabolic genes that largely affected the duration of the larval stages but had no impact on the timing of metamorphosis. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Altitudinal clinal variation in developmental time for natural chromosome substitution lines provides a unique opportunity to dissect the response of heterochronic genes to environmental gradients. Ontogenetic stage-specific variation in invected, mastermind, cricklet and CG14591 may affect natural variation in development time and thermal evolution.
",20585460
0,7227,"Ecdysone control of developmental transitions: lessons from [START]Drosophila[END] research.
The steroid hormone ecdysone is the central regulator of insect developmental transitions. Recent new advances in our understanding of ecdysone action have relied heavily on the application of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] molecular genetic tools to study insect metamorphosis. In this review, we focus on three major aspects of [START]Drosophila[END] ecdysone biology: (a) factors that regulate the timing of ecdysone release, (b) molecular basis of stage- and tissue-specific responses to ecdysone, and (c) feedback regulation and coordination of ecdysone signaling.
",23072462
0,7227,"Male-Killing Spiroplasma Alters Behavior of the Dosage Compensation Complex during [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] Embryogenesis.
Numerous arthropods harbor maternally transmitted bacteria that induce the preferential death of males [1-7]. This sex-specific lethality benefits the bacteria because males are ""dead ends"" regarding bacterial transmission, and their absence may result in additional resources for their viable female siblings who can thereby more successfully transmit the bacteria [5]. Although these symbionts disrupt a range of developmental processes [8-10], the underlying cellular mechanisms are largely unknown. It was previously shown that mutations in genes of the dosage compensation pathway of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] suppressed male killing caused by the bacterium, Spiroplasma [10]. This result suggested that dosage compensation is a target of Spiroplasma. However, it remains unclear how this pathway is affected, and whether the underlying interactions require the male-specific cellular environment. Here, we investigated the cellular basis of male embryonic lethality in [START]D. melanogaster[END] induced by Spiroplasma. We found that the dosage compensation complex (DCC), which acetylates X chromatin in males [11], becomes mis-localized to ectopic regions of the nucleus immediately prior to the killing phase. This effect was accompanied by inappropriate histone acetylation and genome-wide mis-regulation of gene expression. Artificially induced formation of the DCC in infected females, through transgenic expression of the DCC-specific gene msl-2, resulted in mis-localization of this complex to non-X regions and early Spiroplasma-induced death, mirroring the killing effects in males. These findings strongly suggest that Spiroplasma initiates male killing by targeting the dosage compensation machinery directly and independently of other cellular features characteristic of the male sex.
",27161498
0,7227,"Radiation hormesis and radioadaptive response in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] flies with different genetic backgrounds: the role of cellular stress-resistance mechanisms.
The purpose of this work is to investigate the role of cellular stress-resistance mechanisms in the low-dose irradiation effects on [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] lifespan. In males and females with the wild type Canton-S genotype the chronic low dose irradiation (40 cGy) induced the hormetic effect and radiation adaptive response to acute irradiation (30 Gy). The hormesis and radioadaptive responses were observed in flies with mutations in autophagy genes (atg7, atg8a) but absent in flies with mutations in FOXO, ATM, ATR, and p53 homologues. The hormetic effect was revealed in Sirt2 mutant males but not in females. On the contrary, the females but not males of JNK/+ mutant strain showed adaptive response. The obtained results demonstrate the essential role of FOXO, SIRT1, JNK, ATM, ATR, and p53 genes in hormesis and radiation adaptive response of the whole organism.
",21234801
0,7227,"Natural variation in differentiated hemocytes is related to parasitoid resistance in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
As a measure of parasitoid resistance, hemocyte load and encapsulation ability were measured in lines collected from natural populations of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] in Europe. Results show large geographic variation in resistance against the parasitoid wasp Asobara tabida among the field lines, but there was no clear correlation between resistance and total hemocyte load, neither before nor after parasitization. This was in contrast to the patterns that had been found in a comparison among species of [START]Drosophila[END], where total hemocyte counts were positively correlated to encapsulation rates. This suggests that the mechanisms underlying between-species variation in parasitoid resistance do not extend to the natural variation that exists within a species. Although hemocyte counts did not correspond to encapsulation ability within [START]D. melanogaster[END], the ratios of lamellocytes and crystal cells were very similar in lines with successful encapsulation responses. Apart from variation in the hemocytic response of the different hemocyte types, within-species variation was also observed for accurate targeting of the foreign body by the hemocytes. These results are discussed in the context of possible causes of variation in immune functions among natural populations.
",23123513
0,7227,"A rehabilitation of the genetic map of the 84B-D region in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
A reanalysis of the 84B3 to 84D3,5 region of the polytene chromosomes of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] has led to the identification and localization of 16 genes. These genes include 11 vital loci, four genes exhibiting nonlethal visible mutant phenotypes and one gene encoding a nonessential enzyme. The identity of the gene products of two of the vital genes has been determined to be alpha-tubulin and glucose dehydrogenase (Gld). Three newly identified genes, sticking (stk), half out (hat) and trapped (ted), as well as Gld are required for eclosion. Among the nonessential genes are roughened eye (roe) and ruffed eye (rue), which affect eye texture. The roe phenotype is greatly enhanced by deletions that simultaneously remove roe and an unidentified locus in 84E. Mutations in another nonessential gene, rotund (rn), are characterized by pattern deletions of most adult appendages.
",3095179
0,7227,"Long-range projection neurons in the taste circuit of [START]Drosophila[END].
Taste compounds elicit innate feeding behaviors and act as rewards or punishments to entrain other cues. The neural pathways by which taste compounds influence innate and learned behaviors have not been resolved. Here, we identify three classes of taste projection neurons (TPNs) in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] distinguished by their morphology and taste selectivity. TPNs receive input from gustatory receptor neurons and respond selectively to sweet or bitter stimuli, demonstrating segregated processing of different taste modalities. Activation of TPNs influences innate feeding behavior, whereas inhibition has little effect, suggesting parallel pathways. Moreover, two TPN classes are absolutely required for conditioned taste aversion, a learned behavior. The TPNs essential for conditioned aversion project to the superior lateral protocerebrum (SLP) and convey taste information to mushroom body learning centers. These studies identify taste pathways from sensory detection to higher brain that influence innate behavior and are essential for learned responses to taste compounds.
",28164781
0,7227,"The morphogenesis of spermathecae and spermathecal glands in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Sperm storage in female insects is important for reproductive success and sperm competition. In [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] females, sperm viability during storage is dependent upon secretions produced by spermathecae and parovaria. Class III dermal glands are present in both structures. Spermathecal glands are initially comprised of a three-cell unit that is refined to a single secretory cell in the adult. It encapsulates an end-apparatus joining to a cuticular duct passing secretions to the spermathecal lumen. We have examined spermatheca morphogenesis using DIC and fluorescence microscopy. In agreement with a recent study, cell division ceases by 36 h after puparium formation (APF). Immunostaining of the plasma membrane at this stage demonstrates that gland cells wrap around the developing end-apparatus and each other. By 48-60 h APF, the secretory cell exhibits characteristic adult morphology of an enlarged nucleus and extracellular reservoir. A novel finding is the presence of an extracellular reservoir in the basal support cell that is continuous with the secretory cell reservoir. Some indication of early spermathecal gland formation is evident in the division of enlarged cells lying adjacent to the spermathecal lumen at 18 h APF and in cellular processes that bind clusters of cells between 24 and 30 h APF.
",23872109
0,7227,"Complete mitochondrial genome sequences of thirteen globally sourced strains of [START]fruit fly[END] ([START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]) form a powerful model for mitochondrial research.
The complete mitogenomes of 13 strains of the [START]fruit fly[END] [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] were sequenced. Haplotypes varied between 19 532 and 19 537 bp in length, and followed standard dipteran mitogenome content and organization. We detected a total of 354 variable sites between all thirteen haplotypes, while single pairs of haplotypes were separated by an average of 123 variable sites. The sequenced fly strains form a powerful model for mitochondrial research, when it comes to elucidating the links between the mitochondrial genotype and the phenotype.
",26709744
0,7227,"Using the Q system in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
In [START]Drosophila[END], the GAL4/UAS/GAL80 repressible binary expression system is widely used to manipulate or mark tissues of interest. However, complex biological systems often require distinct transgenic manipulations of different cell populations. For this purpose, we recently developed the Q system, a second repressible binary expression system. We describe here the basic steps for performing a variety of Q system experiments in vivo. These include how to generate and use Q system reagents to express effector transgenes in tissues of interest, how to use the Q system in conjunction with the GAL4 system to generate intersectional expression patterns that precisely limit which tissues will be experimentally manipulated and how to use the Q system to perform mosaic analysis. The protocol described here can be adapted to a wide range of experimental designs.
",21738124
0,7227,"Cell Sheet Morphogenesis: Dorsal Closure in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] as a Model System.
Dorsal closure is a key process during [START]Drosophila[END] morphogenesis that models cell sheet movements in chordates, including neural tube closure, palate formation, and wound healing. Closure occurs midway through embryogenesis and entails circumferential elongation of lateral epidermal cell sheets that close a dorsal hole filled with amnioserosa cells. Signaling pathways regulate the function of cellular structures and processes, including Actomyosin and microtubule cytoskeletons, cell-cell/cell-matrix adhesion complexes, and endocytosis/vesicle trafficking. These orchestrate complex shape changes and movements that entail interactions between five distinct cell types. Genetic and laser perturbation studies establish that closure is robust, resilient, and the consequence of redundancy that contributes to four distinct biophysical processes: contraction of the amnioserosa, contraction of supracellular Actomyosin cables, elongation (stretching?) of the lateral epidermis, and zipping together of two converging cell sheets. What triggers closure and what the emergent properties are that give rise to its extraordinary resilience and fidelity remain key, extant questions.
",28992442
0,7227,"Conversion of the chill susceptible [START]fruit fly[END] larva ([START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]) to a freeze tolerant organism.
Among vertebrates, only a few species of amphibians and reptiles tolerate the formation of ice crystals in their body fluids. Freeze tolerance is much more widespread in invertebrates, especially in overwintering insects. Evolutionary adaptations for freeze tolerance are considered to be highly complex. Here we show that surprisingly simple laboratory manipulations can change the chill susceptible insect to the freeze tolerant one. Larvae of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], a [START]fruit fly[END] of tropical origin with a weak innate capacity to tolerate mild chilling, can survive when approximately 50% of their body water freezes. To achieve this goal, synergy of two fundamental prerequisites is required: (i) shutdown of larval development by exposing larvae to low temperatures (dormancy) and (ii) incorporating the free amino acid proline in tissues by feeding larvae a proline-augmented diet (cryopreservation).
",22331891
0,7227,"The digestive tract of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
The digestive tract plays a central role in the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Far from being a passive tube, it provides the first line of defense against pathogens and maintains energy homeostasis by exchanging neuronal and endocrine signals with other organs. Historically neglected, the gut of the [START]fruit fly[END] [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] has recently come to the forefront of [START]Drosophila[END] research. Areas as diverse as stem cell biology, neurobiology, metabolism, and immunity are benefitting from the ability to study the genetics of development, growth regulation, and physiology in the same organ. In this review, we summarize our knowledge of the [START]Drosophila[END] digestive tract, with an emphasis on the adult midgut and its functional underpinnings. 
",24016187
0,7227,"[Animal ontogenetic cell signaling pathways by the example of Notch cascade of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]].
Intercellular communications are coordinated in developing vertebrates and invertebrates embryos by a few signaling pathways. Structural and functional components of the pathways are encoded by cascade of genes. The signal transduction from cell surface to the nucleus is the common feature of these pathways. It is initiated by interaction of secreted ligand (signal) with the outer segment of transmembrane receptor. Then, activation of the intracellular segment of receptor provides modification of signal transducers in cytoplasm including transcription factors that regulates expression of target genes. Cell signal transduction development is conserved between species. In individual organism signal pathways provide various responses due to a time or spatial disjunction of gene expression. Morphogenetic features, genetic structure and signal transduction sequence of events are considered by the example of Notch cascade of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
",15490578
0,7227,"Evolution of starvation resistance in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]: measurement of direct and correlated responses to artificial selection.
Laboratory selection for resistance to starvation has been conducted under relatively controlled conditions to investigate direct and correlated responses to artificial selection. With regard to starvation resistance, there are three physiological routes by which the trait can evolve: resource accumulation, energy conservation and starvation tolerance. A majority of energetic compounds and macromolecules including triglycerides, trehalose and other sugars, and soluble protein increased in abundance as a result of selection. Movement was additionally investigated with selected males moving less than control males and selected females exhibiting a similar response to selection. Results obtained from this study supported two of the possible evolutionary mechanisms for adaptation to starvation: energy compound storage and conservation. If the response to selection is based on an evolutionarily conserved pattern of genetic correlations (elevated lipid, elevated sugars and reduced movement), then the response to selection is medically relevant and the genetic architecture should be investigated in depth.
",22151916
0,7227,"Heritability, evolvability, phenotypic plasticity and temporal variation in sperm-competition success of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Sperm-competition success (SCS) is seen as centrally important for evolutionary change: superior fathers sire superior sons and thereby inherit the traits that make them superior. Additional hypotheses, that phenotypic plasticity in SCS and sperm ageing explain variation in paternity, are less considered. Even though various alleles have individually been shown to be correlated with variation in SCS, few studies have addressed the heritability, or evolvability, of overall SCS. Those studies that have addressed found low or no heritability and have not examined evolvability. They have further not excluded phenotypic plasticity, and temporal effects on SCS, despite their known dramatic effects on sperm function. In [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], we found that both standard components of sperm competition, sperm defence and sperm offence, showed nonsignificant heritability across several offspring cohorts. Instead, our analysis revealed, for the first time, the existence of phenotypic plasticity in SCS across an extreme environment (5% CO2 ), and an influence of sperm ageing. Evolvability of SCS was substantial for sperm defence but weak for sperm offence. Our results suggest that the paradigm of explaining evolution by sperm competition is more complex and will benefit from further experimental work on the heritability or evolvability of SCS, measuring phenotypic plasticity, and separating the effects of sperm competition and sperm ageing.
",26990919
0,7227,"Gene Expression as a Dosimeter in Irradiated [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Biological indicators would be of use in radiation dosimetry in situations where an exposed person is not wearing a dosimeter, or when physical dosimeters are insufficient to estimate the risk caused by the radiation exposure. In this work, we investigate the use of gene expression as a dosimeter. Gene expression analysis was done on 15,222 genes of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] ([START]fruit flies[END]) at days 2, 10, and 20 postirradiation, with X-ray exposures of 10, 1000, 5000, 10,000, and 20,000 roentgens. Several genes were identified, which could serve as a biodosimeter in an irradiated [START]D. melanogaster[END] model. Many of these genes have human homologues. Six genes showed a linear response (R2 > 0.9) with dose at all time points. One of these genes, inverted repeat-binding protein, is a known DNA repair gene and has a human homologue (XRCC6). The lowest dose, 10 roentgen, is very low for [START]fruit flies[END]. If the lowest dose is excluded, 13 genes showed a linear response with dose at all time points. This includes 5 of 6 genes that were linear with all radiation doses included. Of these 13 genes, 4 have human homologues and 8 have known functions. The expression of this panel of genes, particularly those with human homologues, could potentially be used as the biological indicator of radiation exposure in dosimetry applications.
",29035581
0,7227,"Genome-wide approaches to understanding behaviour in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Understanding how an organism exhibits specific behaviours remains a major and important biological question. Studying behaviour in a simple model organism like the [START]fruit fly[END] [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] has the advantages of advanced molecular genetics approaches along with well-defined anatomy and physiology. With advancements in functional genomic technologies, researchers are now attempting to uncover genes and pathways involved in complex behaviours on a genome-wide scale. A systems-level network approach, which will include genomic approaches, to study behaviour will be key to understanding the regulation and modulation of behaviours and the importance of context in regulating them.
",22843979
0,7227,"Cell lines from imaginal discs of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
New cell lines, designated as ML-DmD1-10, were established from dissociated imaginal discs of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. The culture medium was prepared by mixing in a 1:1 ratio Cross and Sang's M3(BF) medium, supplemented with 10% heat inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS), with the supernatant of a primary embryonic cell culture made in the M3(BF) medium and supplementing this mixture with insulin. One cell line was established in the medium containing larval hemolymph instead of the primary culture supernatant, and another was established in fresh M3(BF) medium supplemented with insulin and FBS. In these mediums, imaginal disc cells first formed aggregates and cellular vesicles within a few weeks followed by the proliferation of thin-layered cells around them after about 1 mo. Ten cell lines have so far been established from two kinds of imaginal discs and disc mixtures. The ploidy of these cell lines was predominantly diploid. Population doubling time was about 50 to 70 h at 3 to 10 mo. after initiation of the culture. When the cell aggregates formed in vitro were implanted in metamorphosing larvae, they differentiated at high frequency into adult cuticular structures in the early phase of the primary culture. This differentiation of aggregates was also observed, though at low frequency, in a culture maintained by dilution-transfer for 6 to 15 mo. in vitro.
",3117765
0,7227,"Visuomotor control: [START]Drosophila[END] bridges the gap.
[START]Fruit flies[END] with genetic lesions disrupting the structure of a brain region known as the protocerebral bridge fail to aim their movements correctly when crossing gaps, implicating this central brain neuropile in the visual control of goal-directed behaviour.
",20392418
0,7227,"Does cold activate the [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] immune system?
Cold exposure appears to activate aspects of the insect immune system; however, the functional significance of the relationship between cold and immunity is unclear. Insect success at low temperatures is shaped in part by interactions with biotic stressors, such as pathogens, thus it is important to understand how and why immunity might be activated by cold. Here we explore which components of the immune system are activated, and whether those components differ among different kinds of cold exposure. We exposed [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] to both acute (2h, -2 C) and sustained (10h, -0.5 C) cold, and measured potential (antimicrobial peptide expression, phenoloxidase activity, haemocyte counts) and realised (survival of fungal infection, wound-induced melanisation, bacterial clearance) immunity following recovery. Acute cold increased circulating haemocyte concentration and the expression of Turandot-A and diptericin, but elicited a short-term decrease in the clearance of gram-positive bacteria. Sustained cold increased the expression of Turandot-A, with no effect on other measures of potential or realised immunity. We show that measures of potential immunity were up-regulated by cold, whereas realised immunity was either unaffected or down-regulated. Thus, we hypothesize that cold-activation of potential immunity in [START]Drosophila[END] may be a compensatory mechanism to maintain stable immune function during or after low temperature exposure.
",27765624
0,7227,"A comparison of the transcriptome of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] in response to entomopathogenic fungus, ionizing radiation, starvation and cold shock.
BACKGROUND: The molecular mechanisms that determine the organism's response to a variety of doses and modalities of stress factors are not well understood. RESULTS: We studied effects of ionizing radiation (144, 360 and 864 Gy), entomopathogenic fungus (10 and 100 CFU), starvation (16 h), and cold shock (+4, 0 and -4 C) on an organism's viability indicators (survival and locomotor activity) and transcriptome changes in the [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] model. All stress factors but cold shock resulted in a decrease of lifespan proportional to the dose of treatment. However, stress-factors affected locomotor activity without correlation with lifespan. Our data revealed both significant similarities and differences in differential gene expression and the activity of biological processes under the influence of stress factors. CONCLUSIONS: Studied doses of stress treatments deleteriously affect the organism's viability and lead to different changes of both general and specific cellular stress response mechanisms.
",26694630
0,7227,"Localization of a dosage sensitive region for pyruvate kinase in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
A small segment of chromosome 1, 12AB-12C, in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] is dosage-sensitive for the glycolytic enzyme pyruvate kinase (EC 2.7.1.40). We suggest that the enzyme is coded by a gene, Pyk+, located within this region. The activity of the enzyme over developmental time also was measured.
",3920304
0,7227,"External control of the [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] lifespan by combination of 3D oscillating low-frequency electric and magnetic fields.
We demonstrate that the lifespan of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] population is controllable by a combination of external three-dimensional oscillating low-frequency electric and magnetic fields (3D OLFEMFs). The lifespan was decreased or increased in dependence of the parameters of the external 3D OLFEMFs. We propose that metabolic processes in [START]D. melanogaster[END]'s body are either accelerated (in the case of reduced lifespan) or slowed down (in the case of increased lifespan) in function of 3D OLFEMFs that induce vibrational motions on sub-cellular and larger scales.
",23977947
0,7227,"Experimental evolution of resistance against a competing fungus in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Competition between microorganisms and arthropods has been shown to be an important ecological interaction determining animal development and spatial distribution patterns in saprophagous communities. In fruit-inhabiting [START]Drosophila[END], variation in insect developmental success is not only determined by species-specific effects of various noxious filamentous fungi but, as suggested by an earlier study, also by additive genetic variation in the ability to successfully withstand the negative impact of the fungi. If this variation represents a direct adaptive response to the degree to which insect breeding substrates are infested with harmful fungi, genetic variation for successful development in the presence of fungi could be maintained by variation in infestation of resource patches with fungi. We selected for the ability to resist the negative influence of mould by maintaining replicated [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] populations on substrates infested with Aspergillus nidulans. After five cycles of exposure to the fungus during the larval stage, the selected populations were compared with unselected control populations regarding adult survival and reproduction to reveal an evolved resistance against the fungal competitor. On fungus-infested larval feeding substrates, emerged adults from mould-selected populations had higher survival rates and higher early fecundity than the control populations. In the unselected populations, females had higher mortality rates than males, and a high proportion of both females and males appeared to be unable to lay eggs or fertilise eggs, respectively. When larvae developed on non-infested food we found indications of a loss of resistance to abiotic and starvation stress in the adult stage in flies from the selected populations. This suggests that there are costs associated with an increase in resistance against the microbial competitor. We discuss the underlying mechanisms that might have selected for increased resistance against harmful fungi.
",19597847
0,7227,"Olfaction in [START]Drosophila[END]: genetic and molecular analysis.
[START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] has a sophisticated yet relatively simple olfactory system, the function of which can be studied in vivo by either physiological or behavioral methods. Several genetic and molecular approaches have been applied to isolating and characterizing genes required for the function or development of the olfactory system. Recent analysis of some of these genes is beginning to provide insight into their functions.
",1726342
0,7227,"Trade-off of ovarian lipids and total body lipids for fecundity and starvation resistance in tropical populations of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
In [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], clines of starvation resistance along a latitudinal gradient (south to north) have been reported in India, which matched with their cline for total body lipids (TL ). Nevertheless, producing too many reserves is likely to be costly and a trade-off might exist with life-history traits. Previous studies on starvation resistance and life-history traits of [START]D. melanogaster[END] have mainly focused on quantification of total body lipids, instead of separating ovarian lipids from total body lipids. In the present study, we have quantified absolute ovarian lipids (OL ) versus absolute body lipids excluding ovarian lipids (BL ) and examined associations with fecundity as well as starvation resistance in two latitudinal populations (8.34 vs. 32.43 N) of [START]D. melanogaster[END]. Firstly, we observed a trade-off between BL and OL that matched the trade-off of starvation resistance, longevity versus fecundity and development time in latitudinal populations of [START]D. melanogaster[END]. Southern populations had higher starvation resistance, more BL and lesser OL, whereas northern populations had enhanced fecundity, OL and lesser BL . Secondly, within population, starvation resistance also correlated with BL , and fecundity with OL . However, there was no correlation between starvation resistance and OL . Moreover, there was utilization of BL and nonutilization of OL under starvation stress. Therefore, resources invested for fecundity in the form of OL were independent of evolved starvation resistance in [START]D. melanogaster[END]. Our results suggest that a common pool of energy storage compounds (lipids) are allocated differentially between fecundity and starvation resistance and are consistent with Y-model of resource allocation. 
",25223796
0,7227,"Dynamic changes in ejaculatory bulb size during [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] aging and mating.
The ejaculatory bulb of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] males produces proteins and pheromones that play important roles in reproduction. This tissue is also the final mixing site for the ejaculate before transfer to the female. The ejaculatory bulb's dynamics remain largely unstudied. By microscopy of the ejaculatory bulb in maturing adult males, we observed that the ejaculatory bulb expands in size as males age. Moreover, we document that when males mate, their ejaculatory bulb expands further as ejaculate transfer begins, and then contracts halfway through the course of mating as ejaculate transfer finishes. Although there is some male-to-male variation in the timing of these changes, ultimately the tissue changes in a predictable pattern that gives insight into the active mating process in [START]Drosophila[END].
",29634921
0,7227,"FlyBase: a [START]Drosophila[END] database.
FlyBase (http://flybase.bio.indiana.edu/) is a comprehensive database of genetic and molecular data concerning [START]Drosophila[END] . FlyBase is maintained as a relational database (in Sybase) and is made available as html documents and flat files. The scope of FlyBase includes: genes, alleles (with phenotypes), aberrations, transposons, pointers to sequence data, gene products, maps, clones, stock lists, [START]Drosophila[END] workers and bibliographic references.
",9399806
0,7227,"Inbreeding effects on standard metabolic rate investigated at cold, benign and hot temperatures in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Inbreeding increases homozygosity, which is known to affect the mean and variance of fitness components such as growth, fecundity and mortality rate. Across inbred lines inbreeding depression is typically observed and the variance between lines is increased in inbred compared to outbred lines. It has been suggested that damage incurred from increased homozygosity entails energetic cost associated with cellular repair. However, little is known about the effects of inbreeding on standard metabolic rate. Using stop-flow respirometry we performed repeated measurements of metabolic rate in replicated lines of inbred and outbred [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] at stressful low, benign and stressful high temperatures. The lowest measurements of metabolic rate in our study are always associated with the low activity period of the diurnal cycle and these measurements therefore serve as good estimates of standard metabolic rate. Due to the potentially added costs of genetic stress in inbred lines we hypothesized that inbred individuals have increased metabolic rate compared to outbred controls and that this is more pronounced at stressful temperatures due to synergistic inbreeding by environment interactions. Contrary to our hypothesis we found no significant difference in metabolic rate between inbred and outbred lines and no interaction between inbreeding and temperature. Inbreeding however effected the variance; the variance in metabolic rate was higher between the inbred lines compared to the outbred control lines with some inbred lines having very high or low standard metabolic rate. Thus genetic drift and not inbreeding per se seem to explain variation in metabolic rate in populations of different size. 
",24456661
0,7227,"Hybrid dysgenesis in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]: a new type of gonadal dysgenic sterility expressed at the pre-pupal stage.
Two sublines, B-202 and B-207, which were derived from crosses between Or-R (M) females and Cy/Pm (P) males were found to cause a new type of gonadal dysgenic sterility, designated as the GD-3. GD-3 sterility showed a typical reciprocal cross effect under the P-M system. It was caused at the frequency close to 100% in dysgenic offsprings reared above 25 degrees C, of which gonads were morphologically clearly different from those of usual GD sterility, whereas there was no indication of GD-3 sterility at temperatures below 24 degrees C. Temperature sensitive period of GD-3 sterility was estimated to the prepupal stage by shift-down experiment. In the B-202 subline, the 2nd chromosomes marked with Pm alone carried GD-3 elements. Those of the B-207 subline, however, were estimated to locate both on the 2nd and 3rd chromosomes, acting synergistically with each other.
",1910874
0,7227,"Dissection of oenocytes from adult [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
In [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], as in other insects, a waxy layer on the outer surface of the cuticle, composed primarily of hydrocarbon compounds, provides protection against desiccation and other environmental challenges. Several of these cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) compounds also function as semiochemical signals, and as such mediate pheromonal communications between members of the same species, or in some instances between different species, and influence behavior. Specialized cells referred to as oenocytes are regarded as the primary site for CHC synthesis. However, relatively little is known regarding the involvement of the oenocytes in the regulation of the biosynthetic, transport, and deposition pathways contributing to CHC output. Given the significant role that CHCs play in several aspects of insect biology, including chemical communication, desiccation resistance, and immunity, it is important to gain a greater understanding of the molecular and genetic regulation of CHC production within these specialized cells. The adult oenocytes of [START]D. melanogaster[END] are located within the abdominal integument, and are metamerically arrayed in ribbon-like clusters radiating along the inner cuticular surface of each abdominal segment. In this video article we demonstrate a dissection technique used for the preparation of oenocytes from adult [START]D. melanogaster[END]. Specifically, we provide a detailed step-by-step demonstration of (1) how to fillet prepare an adult [START]Drosophila[END] abdomen, (2) how to identify the oenocytes and discern them from other tissues, and (3) how to remove intact oenocyte clusters from the abdominal integument. A brief experimental illustration of how this preparation can be used to examine the expression of genes involved in hydrocarbon synthesis is included. The dissected preparation demonstrated herein will allow for the detailed molecular and genetic analysis of oenocyte function in the adult [START]fruit fly[END].
",20689503
0,7227,"Female and male genetic contributions to post-mating immune defence in female [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Post-mating reduction in immune defence is common in female insects, and a trade-off between mating and immunity could affect the evolution of immunity. In this work, we tested the capacity of virgin and mated female [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] to defend against infection by four bacterial pathogens. We found that female [START]D. melanogaster[END] suffer post-mating immunosuppression in a pathogen-dependent manner. The effect of mating was seen after infection with two bacterial pathogens (Providencia rettgeri and Providencia alcalifaciens), though not after infection with two other bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). We then asked whether the evolution of post-mating immunosuppression is primarily a 'female' or 'male' trait by assaying for genetic variation among females for the degree of post-mating immune suppression they experience and among males for the level of post-mating immunosuppression they elicit in their mates. We also assayed for an interaction between male and female genotypes to test the specific hypothesis that the evolution of a trade-off between mating and immune defence in females might be being driven by sexual conflict. We found that females, but not males, harbour significant genetic variation for post-mating immunosuppression, and we did not detect an interaction between female and male genotypes. We thus conclude that post-mating immune depression is predominantly a 'female' trait, and find no evidence that it is evolving under sexual conflict.
",20573620
0,7227,"The genetics of the dorsal-Bicaudal-D region of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
The chromosomal region 36C on 2L contains two maternal-effect loci, dorsal (dl) and Bicaudal-D (Bic-D), which are involved in establishing polarity of the [START]Drosophila[END] embryo along the dorsal-ventral and anterior-posterior axes, respectively. To analyze the region genetically, we isolated X-ray-induced dorsal alleles, which we recognized by virtue of the haplo-insufficient temperature-sensitive dorsal-dominant phenotype in progeny of single females heterozygous for a mutagenized chromosome. From the 20,000 chromosomes tested, we isolated three deficiencies, two inversions with breakpoint in dl and one apparent dl point mutant. One of the deficiencies, Df(2L)H20 (36A6,7; 36F1,2) was used to screen for EMS-induced lethal- and maternal-effect mutants mapping in the vicinity of dl and Bic-D. We isolated 44 lethal mutations defining 11 complementation groups. We also recovered as maternal-effect mutations four dl alleles, as well as six alleles of quail and one allele of kelch, two previously identified maternal-effect genes. Through complementation tests with various viable mutants and deficiencies in the region, a total of 18 loci were identified in an interval of about 30 cytologically visible bands. The region was subdivided into seven subregions by deficiency breakpoints. One lethal complementation group as well as the two maternal loci, Bic-D and quail, are located in the same deficiency interval as is dl.
",3089869
0,7227,"Thermal acclimation of flies from three populations of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] fails to support the seasonality hypothesis.
In seasonal environments, natural selection should favor genotypes that acclimate to slow and predictable changes in temperature. Selective pressure for acclimation should be especially strong for animals that complete many generations per year, because seasonal warming or cooling causes offspring to experience different temperatures than their parents did. Here, we studied variation in acclimation capacity among three populations of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. We used a reverse acclimation design to see whether developmental acclimation persisted throughout adulthood. Flies developed from fertilization to adulthood at either 16  or 26  C. Then, flies either remained at the same temperature or moved to the other temperature for 7 days. We measured fecundity at seven temperatures ranging from 14  to 36 C. Genotypes from North Carolina and Vermont laid more eggs at 16  C after spending the larval and adult stages at 16  C, instead of 26  C. In both populations, the benefit of acclimation to 16  C during development was erased by acclimation to 26  C during adulthood. In contrast to our prediction, genotypes from Indiana laid fewer eggs at 16  C or 26  C after developing at this temperature. Overall, these data provide only weak support for the models of optimal acclimation in seasonal environments.
",30975420
0,7227,"Selection for digging behavior in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] larvae.
The genetics of the digging behavior of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] larvae was studied through selective breeding. Selection for low digging activity was successful, but selection for high digging activity was not. Selection for low and high digging activity affected another behavior, namely the choice of a pupation site. Digging behavior appears to be under polygenic control.
",104704
0,7227,"Natural genetic variation in social environment choice: context-dependent gene-environment correlation in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Gene-environment correlation (rGE) occurs when an individual's genotype determines its choice of environment, generating a correlation between environment and genotype frequency. In particular, social rGE, caused by genetic variation in social environment choice, can critically determine both individual development and the course of social selection. Despite its foundational role in social evolution and developmental psychology theory, natural genetic variation in social environment choice has scarcely been examined empirically. [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] provides an ideal system for investigating social rGE. Flies live socially in nature and have many opportunities to make social decisions; and natural, heterozygous genotypes may be replicated, enabling comparisons between genotypes across environments. Using this approach, I show that all aspects of social environment choice vary among natural genotypes, demonstrating pervasive social rGE. Surprisingly, genetic variation in group-size preference was density dependent, indicating that the behavioral and evolutionary consequences of rGE may depend on the context in which social decisions are made. These results provide the first detailed investigation of social rGE, and illustrate that that genetic variation may influence organismal performance by specifying the environment in which traits are expressed.
",21790578
0,7227,"Preadult parental diet affects offspring development and metabolism in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
When [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] larvae are reared on isocaloric diets differing in their amounts of protein relative to sugar, emerging adults exhibit significantly different development times and metabolic pools of protein, glycogen and trigylcerides. In the current study, we show that the influence of larval diet experienced during just one generation extends into the next generation, even when that subsequent generation had been shifted to a standard diet during development. Offspring of flies that were reared on high protein relative to sugar underwent metamorphosis significantly faster, had higher reproductive outputs, and different metabolic pool contents compared to the offspring of adults from low protein relative to sugar diets. In addition, isofemale lines differed in the degree to which parental effects were observed, suggesting a genetic component to the observed transgenerational influences.
",23555695
0,7227,"Developmental genetic analysis of Contrabithorax mutations in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
A developmental analysis of the Contrabithorax (Cbx) alleles offers the opportunity to examine the role of the Ultrabithorax (Ubx) gene in controlling haltere, as alternative to wing, morphogenesis in [START]Drosophila[END]. Several Cbx alleles are known with different spatial specificity in their wing toward haltere homeotic transformation. The molecular data on these mutations, however, does not readily explain differences among mutant phenotypes. In this work, we have analyzed the ""apogenetic"" mosaic spots of transformation in their adult phenotype, in mitotic recombination clones and in the spatial distribution of Ubx proteins in imaginal discs. The results suggest that the phenotypes emerge from early clonality in some Cbx alleles, and from cell-cell interactions leading to recruitment of cells to Ubx gene expression in others. We have found, in addition, mutual interactions between haltere and wing territories in pattern and dorsoventral symmetries, suggesting short distance influences, ""accommodation,"" during cell proliferation of the anlage. These findings are considered in an attempt to explain allele specificity in molecular and developmental terms.
",1977655
0,7227,"Impact of Potential Probiotic Lactobacillus Strains on Host Growth and Development in a [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] Model.
Lactobacillus paracasei SD1, Lactobacillus rhamnosus SD11, and Lactobacillus gasseri SD12 were proposed as potential probiotics for oral health. However, the effects of them on host physiology are still unknown. This study aimed to select strains that can promote host growth and development in monocolonized [START]Drosophila[END] model compared with axenic and the commercial Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG-treated flies. The morphogenesis and growth of axenic [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] were assessed from embryo to adult stage when provided with each probiotic strain-supplemented food. The colonization and persistence of probiotic in fly gut were also evaluated. The results indicated that axenic condition caused the lowest adult weight and emergence rate. All probiotic groups had higher weight than axenic group. Lact. rhamnosus SD11 group presented high adult emergence rate equivalent to Lact. rhamnosus GG group, which is significantly higher than the others. However, Lact. gasseri SD12 group had significantly lower adult weight and emergence rate when compared with Lact. rhamnosus GG group. The gut probiotics levels were rapidly increased within the first day after receiving probiotics. After probiotic cessation, their number in gut decreased and was maintained at low level, except for Lact. gasseri SD12, which completely vanished since day one. In conclusion, Lact. paracasei SD1, Lact. rhamnosus SD11, and Lact. rhamnosus GG can affect morphogenesis and weight of flies when fed since immature stage and have short period gut colonization. The findings of this study could possibly imply comparable health-promoting effects between Lact. paracasei SD1 and Lact. rhamnosus SD11 to commercial strain in [START]Drosophila[END] model.
",32875521
0,7227,"No trade-off between learning ability and parasitoid resistance in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Learning ability and immunity to parasites are linked at the physiological level in several insect species. The aim of this work was to investigate the relationship between learning and immunity at an evolutionary level. We tested whether selection for improved learning ability in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] led to changes in parasitoid resistance as a correlated response. Similarly, we assayed whether selection for better parasitoid resistance led to a change in learning ability. There was no significant difference between selected and control lines in either case; the estimated confidence intervals for the differences indicate that a trade-off relationship is unlikely.
",16780538
0,7227,"Infection of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] by Tubulinosema kingi: stage-specific susceptibility and within-host proliferation.
Despite its importance as a model organism very little is known about the interaction between [START]Drosophila[END] and its microsporidian pathogens. Here we report on the relative susceptibility of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] life history stages to infection by Tubulinosema kingi, and on patterns of pathogen proliferation. We find that only larvae can be infected, and that this susceptibility decreases with larval age. Following infection, the pathogen shows little subsequent proliferation in larvae, a limited amount in pupae while it replicates greatly in adults. We present evidence that the host launches a cellular immune response after infection with the pathogen, although its effectiveness remains to be demonstrated.
",18394642
0,7227,"Developmental genetics of [START]Drosophila[END].
[START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] is one of the most valuable organisms in biological research, particularly in the areas of genetics and developmental biology. [START]Drosophila[END] has been used as a model organism in research for almost a century. The organism is easy to breed and has a short life cycle, making it ideal for the study of genetic mutations. The importance to human health and development lies in the homology of [START]Drosophila[END] genes to those in man, e.g., the homeobox gene complex.
",15838102
0,7227,"Nuclear receptors--a perspective from [START]Drosophila[END].
Nuclear receptors are ancient ligand-regulated transcription factors that control key metabolic and developmental pathways. The fruitfly [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] has only 18 nuclear-receptor genes - far fewer than any other genetic model organism and representing all 6 subfamilies of vertebrate receptors. These unique attributes establish the fly as an ideal system for studying the regulation and function of nuclear receptors during development. Here, we review recent breakthroughs in our understanding of [START]D. melanogaster[END] nuclear receptors, and interpret these results in light of findings from their evolutionarily conserved vertebrate homologues.
",15803199
0,7227,"Innate antiviral immunity in [START]Drosophila[END].
The study of [START]Drosophila[END], and other genetically tractable insects, has expanded our understanding of innate immunity and more recently antiviral innate mechanisms. The [START]Drosophila[END] antiviral program includes inflammatory signaling cascades as well as antiviral RNA silencing and autophagy. This review will highlight the recent discoveries in antiviral immunity in insects and will reveal some of the lessons learned.
",20137906
0,7227,"Variation in the male pheromones and mating success of wild caught [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
[START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] males express two primary cuticular hydrocarbons (male-predominant hydrocarbons). These act as sex pheromones by influencing female receptivity to mating. The relative quantities of these hydrocarbons vary widely among natural populations and can contribute to variation in mating success. We tested four isofemale lines collected from a wild population to assess the effect of intrapopulation variation in male-predominant hydrocarbons on mating success. The receptivity of laboratory females to males of the four wild-caught lines varied significantly, but not consistently in the direction predicted by variation in male-predominant hydrocarbons. Receptivity of the wild-caught females to laboratory males also varied significantly, but females from lines with male-predominant hydrocarbon profiles closer to a more cosmopolitan one did not show a correspondingly strong mating bias toward a cosmopolitan male. Among wild-caught lines, the male-specific ejaculatory bulb lipid, cis-vaccenyl acetate, varied more than two-fold, but was not associated with variation in male mating success. We observed a strong inverse relationship between the receptivity of wild-caught females and the mating success of males from their own lines, when tested with laboratory flies of the opposite sex.
",21858189
0,7227,"Innate preference in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Innate preference behaviors are fundamental for animal survival. They actually form the basis for many animal complex behaviors. Recent years have seen significant progresses in disclosing the molecular and neural mechanism underlying animal innate preferences, especially in [START]Drosophila[END]. In this review, I will review these studies according to the sensory modalities adopted for preference assaying, such as vision, olfaction, thermal sensation. The behavioral strategies and the theoretic models for the formation of innate preferences are also reviewed and discussed.
",22314485
0,7227,"Deficiency mapping of the genomic regions associated with effects on developmental stability in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Developmental stability is the tendency of morphological traits to resist the effects of developmental noise, and is commonly evaluated by examining fluctuating asymmetry (FA)-random deviations from perfect bilateral symmetry. Molecular mechanisms that control FA have been a long-standing topic of debate in the field of evolutionary biology and quantitative genetics. In this study, we mapped genomic regions associated with effects on the mean and FA of morphological traits, and characterized the trait specificity of those regions. A collection of isogenic deficiency strains established by the DrosDel project was used for deficiency mapping of genome regions associated with effects on FA. We screened 435 genome deficiencies or approximately 64.9% of the entire genome of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] to map the region that demonstrated a significant effect on FA of morphological traits. We found that 406 deficiencies significantly affected the mean of morphological traits, and 92 deficiencies increased FA. These results suggest that several genomic regions have the potential to affect developmental stability. They also suggest the possibility of the existence of trait-specific and trait-nonspecific mechanisms for stabilizing developmental processes. The new findings in this study could provide insight into the understanding of the genetic architecture underlying developmental stability.
",22133226
0,7227,"Using artificial diets to understand the nutritional physiology of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Artificial diets have been in use for rearing insects for more than 100 years. Their composition ranges from completely chemically defined (holidic), to semi-defined (meridic) to non-defined (oligidic). Recently, meridic and holidic diets have been used to demonstrate previously unrecognised nutrient-sensitive behaviours and patterns of fitness trait expression in adult [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. This article presents a summary of the basic nutritional requirements of [START]Drosophila[END] followed by an account of some of these nutrient-modified phenotypes and what they can reveal about fundamental mechanisms. Precisely controlled nutrition, combined with the many advantages of [START]Drosophila[END] present an ideal system for the development of large scale metabolic modelling.
",29129274
0,7227,"Sexual antagonism for resistance and tolerance to infection in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
A critical task in evolutionary genetics is to explain the persistence of heritable variation in fitness-related traits such as immunity. Ecological factors can maintain genetic variation in immunity, but less is known about the role of other factors, such as antagonistic pleiotropy, on immunity. Sexually dimorphic immunity-with females often being more immune-competent-may maintain variation in immunity in dioecious populations. Most eco-immunological studies assess host resistance to parasites rather than the host's ability to maintain fitness during infection (tolerance). Distinguishing between resistance and tolerance is important as they are thought to have markedly different evolutionary and epidemiological outcomes. Few studies have investigated tolerance in animals, and the extent of sexual dimorphism in tolerance is unknown. Using males and females from 50 [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] genotypes, we investigated possible sources of genetic variation for immunity by assessing both resistance and tolerance to the common bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We found evidence of sexual dimorphism and sexual antagonism for resistance and tolerance, and a trade-off between the two traits. Our findings suggest that antagonistic pleiotropy may be a major contributor to variation in immunity, with implications for host-parasite coevolution. 
",24966317
0,7227,"Odour avoidance learning in the larva of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
[START]Drosophila[END] larvae can be trained to avoid odours associated with electric shock. We describe here, an improved method of aversive conditioning and a procedure for decomposing learning retention curve that enables us to do a quantitative analysis of memory phases, short term (STM), middle term (MTM) and long term (LTM) as a function of training cycles. The same method of analysis when applied to learning mutants dunce, amnesiac, rutabaga and radish reveals memory deficits characteristic of the mutant strains.
",19920347
0,7227,"[START]Drosophila[END] mechanoreceptors as a model for studying asymmetric cell division.
Asymmetric cell division (ACD) is one of the processes creating the overall diversity of cell types in multicellular organisms. The essence of this process is that the daughter cells exit from it being different from both the parental cell and one another in their ability to further differentiation and specialization. The large bristles (macrochaetae) that are regularly arranged on the surface of the [START]Drosophila[END] adult function as mechanoreceptors, and since their development requires ACD, they have been extensively used as a model system for studying the genetic control of this process. Each macrochaete is composed of four specialized cells, the progeny resulting from several ACDs from a single sensory organ precursor (SOP) cell, which differentiates from the ectodermal cells of the wing imaginal disc in the third-instar larva and pupa. In this paper we review the experimental data on the genes and their products controlling the ACDs of the SOP cell and its daughter cells, and their further specialization. We discuss the main mechanisms determining the time when the cell enters ACD, as well as the mechanisms providing for the structural characteristics of asymmetric division, namely, polar distribution of protein determinants (Numb and Neuralized), orientation of the division spindle relative to these determinants, and unequal segregation of the determinants specifying the direction of daughter cell development.
",21671219
0,7227,"The neuroarchitecture of the circadian clock in the brain of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Neuroethologists try to assign behavioral functions to certain brain centers, if possible down to individual neurons and to the expression of specific genes. This approach has been successfully applied for the control of circadian rhythmic behavior in the [START]fruit fly[END] [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. Several so-called ""clock genes"" are expressed in specific neurons in the lateral and dorsal brain where they generate cell-autonomous molecular circadian oscillations. These clusters are connected with each other and contribute differentially to the control of behavioral rhythmicity. This report reviews the latest work on characterizing individual circadian pacemaker neurons in the [START]fruit fly[END]'s brain that control activity and pupal eclosion, leading to the questions by which neuronal pathways they are synchronized to the external light-dark cycle, and how they impose periodicity on behavior.
",12966496
0,7227,"Larval competition in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. II. Comparing biological and competitive parameters.
Recent developments in the analysis of density dependent competition in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] have identified two distinct parameters, namely the competitive pressure or aggression exerted by a genotype and the sensitivity or response of a genotype to such aggression. Assuming that response is more related to the efficiency of utilising available resources and aggression to the ability to acquire those resources, we attempt to relate estimates of aggression and response obtained from a range of genotypes to estimates of larval feeding rates and conversion efficiencies. No significant correlations were found and we conclude that other characteristics must be involved in a more complex determination of competitive ability.
",3130340
0,7227,"Sensitivity to ether anesthesia and to gamma-rays in mutagen-sensitive strains of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
An ether-resistant strain of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], Eth-29, has previously been found to be radiosensitive. Some mutagen-sensitive strains are known to be hypersensitive to X-rays in larvae. The correlation between sensitivities to ether anesthesia and to gamma-rays was examined in adult flies of 12 mutagen-sensitive strains and 6 control strains. A wide variation in sensitivities to ether anesthesia, gamma-ray knock-down and gamma-ray lethality was demonstrated. No correlation between DNA-repair capacity and ether sensitivity or gamma-ray knock-down sensitivity was shown. Only mei-9 and mus201, which are deficient in excision repair, as well as Eth-29 were found to be sensitive to gamma-ray lethality. These findings indicate that the targets for ether anesthesia, knock-down and lethality may be different. Lethality appears to be caused by DNA damage, while the other 2 endpoints appear not to be related to DNA damage.
",2105463
0,7227,"Geographic differentiation in wing shape in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Genetic variation of a suite of 12 morphometric wing characters was examined in 16 natural populations of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] from Eastern Europe and Central Asia using principal component analysis. The posterior wing compartment was found to differ in shape between the Eastern European and Central Asian populations. This result in agreement with data on wing shape variation from exposure to high and low temperatures under laboratory conditions.
",8522169
0,7227,"Genetic variation in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] pathogen susceptibility.
Genetic variation in susceptibility to pathogens is a central concern both to evolutionary and medical biologists, and for the implementation of biological control programmes. We have investigated the extent of such variation in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], a major model organism for immunological research. We found that within populations, different [START]Drosophila[END] genotypes show wide-ranging variation in their ability to survive infection with the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. Furthermore, striking divergence in susceptibility has occurred between genotypes from temperate and tropical African locations. We hypothesize that this may have been driven by adaptation to local differences in pathogen exposure or host ecology. Genetic variation within populations may be maintained by temporal or spatial variation in the costs and benefits of pathogen defence. Insect pathogens are employed widely as biological control agents and entomopathogenic fungi are currently being developed for reducing malaria transmission by mosquitoes. Our data highlight the need for concern about resistance evolution to these novel biopesticides in vector populations.
",16497252
0,7227,"Sensitivity differences displayed by [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] larvae of different ages to the toxic effects of growth on media containing aflatoxin B1.
Using [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], the relative sensitivities of various larval stages to the toxic effects of growth on media supplemented with either 0.44 or 0.88 ppm aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) were determined. Two strains of [START]fruit flies[END] were tested: strain A-11 which is relatively resistant to AFB1 induced toxicity, and strain A-9 which is quite sensitive. Eggs, mid-first, mid-second and early-, mid- and late-third instar larvae were transferred onto AFB1 media and allowed to complete larval and pupal development and eclose as adults. At the 0.44 ppm concentration, strain A-11 showed no effect, while only first instar larvae of strain A-9 showed significant mortality rates for first instar larvae, but the A-9 larvae die at higher rates than the A-11 larvae. In addition, second and third instar larvae of strain A-9 show significant mortality rates when grown at 0.88 ppm AFB1, while these stages are not affected in strain A-11.
",106976
0,7227,"[START]Drosophila[END] immune cell migration and adhesion during embryonic development and larval immune responses.
The majority of immune cells in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] are plasmatocytes; they carry out similar functions to vertebrate macrophages, influencing development as well as protecting against infection and cancer. Plasmatocytes, sometimes referred to with the broader term of hemocytes, migrate widely during embryonic development and cycle in the larvae between sessile and circulating positions. Here we discuss the similarities of plasmatocyte developmental migration and its functions to that of vertebrate macrophages, considering the recent controversy regarding the functions of [START]Drosophila[END] PDGF/VEGF related ligands. We also examine recent findings on the significance of adhesion for plasmatocyte migration in the embryo, as well as proliferation, trans-differentiation, and tumor responses in the larva. We spotlight parallels throughout to vertebrate immune responses. 
",26210104
0,7227,"Relationship between genotypes of longevity genes and developmental speed in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Hatching time (the period between egg-laying and hatching) and emerging time were surveyed and their relationship with the adult life span was investigated. A relationship between emerging time and adult life span was clearly evident: early emergers were often long-lived. This relation is considered to have a genetic basis because all the larvae in a group were bred in the same culture bottle. Thus, the longevity genes involved also appear to have control over the rate of development. No significant relation was observed between hatching time and adult life span or between hatching time and emerging time. These results suggest that the function of the longevity genes begins at the larval or pupal stage before emergence, and that adult life spans differentiate at this time.
",1901302
0,7227,"Target genes of homeodomain proteins.
Homeodomain proteins are transcription factors that share a related DNA binding domain, the homeodomain. This class of proteins was first recognized in the fruitfly [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] where they cause homeotic transformations such as a fly with four wings instead of two (Lewis EB. A gene complex controlling segmentation in [START]Drosophila[END]. Nature 1978;276:565-570 [Ref. 18]). They are now known to exist in all eukaryotes where they perform important functions during development. Given that homeodomain proteins are transcription factors, they control the expression of downstream genes to regulate development. Which genes are controlled by homeodomain proteins and how many of them are there? This review focuses on a recent paper by Liang and Biggin (Liang Z, Biggin MD. Eve and Ftz regulate a wide array of genes in blastoderm embryos: the selector homeoproteins directly or indirectly regulate most genes in [START]Drosophila[END]. Development 1998; 125:4471-4482 [Ref. 1]), which proposes that the [START]Drosophila[END] homeodomain proteins Even-skipped and Fushi-tarazu directly control the expression of the majority of genes in the [START]Drosophila[END] genome. An alternative view, that most genes are only indirectly affected by homeodomain proteins is also discussed.
",10377888
0,7227,"Effects of mutations at the stambh A locus of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
We report novel findings on the cytogenetic location, functional complexity and maternal and germline roles of the stambh A locus of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. stmA is localized to polytene bands 44D1.2 on 2R. stmA mutations are of two types: temperature-sensitive (ts) adult and larval paralytic or unconditional embryonic or larval lethal. Twelve alleles reported in this study fall into two intragenic complementing groups suggesting that stmA is a complex locus with more than one functional domain. Some unconditional embryonic lethal alleles show a 'neurogenic' phenotype of cuticle loss accompanied by neural hypertrophy. It is shown that embryos of ts paralytic alleles also show mild neural hypertrophy at permissive temperatures while short exposure to heat induces severe cuticle loss in these embryos. stmA exerts a maternal influence over heat-induced cuticle loss. Unconditional embryonic lethal alleles of stmA are also germline lethal.
",11910128
0,7227,"Plastic and evolutionary responses of cell size and number to larval malnutrition in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Both development and evolution under chronic malnutrition lead to reduced adult size in [START]Drosophila[END]. We studied the contribution of changes in size vs. number of epidermal cells to plastic and evolutionary reduction of wing size in response to poor larval food. We used flies from six populations selected for tolerance to larval malnutrition and from six unselected control populations, raised either under standard conditions or under larval malnutrition. In the control populations, phenotypic plasticity of wing size was mediated by both cell size and cell number. In contrast, evolutionary change in wing size, which was only observed as a correlated response expressed on standard food, was mediated entirely by reduction in cell number. Plasticity of cell number had been lost in the selected populations, and cell number did not differ between the sexes despite males having smaller wings. Results of this and other experimental evolution studies are consistent with the hypothesis that alleles which increase body size through prolonged growth affect wing size mostly via cell number, whereas alleles which increase size through higher growth rate do so via cell size.
",21276112
0,7227,"Neuropeptide Mapping of Dimmed Cells of Adult [START]Drosophila[END] Brain.
Neuropeptides are structurally highly diverse messenger molecules that act as regulators of many physiological processes such as development, metabolism, reproduction or behavior in general. Differentiation of neuropeptidergic cells often corresponds with the presence of the transcription factor DIMMED. In the central nervous system of the [START]fruit fly[END] [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], DIMMED commonly occurs in neuroendocrine neurons that release peptides as neurohormones but also in interneurons with complex branching patterns. Fly strains with green fluorescence protein (GFP)-expressing dimmed cells make it possible to systematically analyze the processed neuropeptides in these cells. In this study, we mapped individual GFP-expressing neurons of adult [START]D. melanogaster[END] from the dimmed (c929)>GFP line. Using single cell mass spectrometry, we analyzed 10 types of dimmed neurons from the brain/gnathal ganglion. These cells included neuroendocrine cells with projection into the retrocerebral complex but also a number of large interneurons. Resulting mass spectra not only provided comprehensive data regarding mature products from 13 neuropeptide precursors but also evidence for the cellular co-localization of neuropeptides from different neuropeptide genes. The results can be implemented in a neuroanatomical map of the [START]D. melanogaster[END] brain. Graphical Abstract  .
",29372551
0,7227,"Targeted Lipidomics of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] During Development.
Lipids play critical roles in developmental processes, and alterations in lipid metabolism are linked to a wide range of human diseases, including neurodegeneration, cancer, metabolic diseases, and microbial infections. [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], more commonly known as the [START]fruit fly[END], is a powerful organism for developmental biology and human disease research. We have previously developed a comprehensive biochemical tool, based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), to probe the dynamics of lipid remodeling during [START]D. melanogaster[END] development. This chapter introduces a step-by-step protocol for extracting and analyzing lipids across all developmental stages (embryo, larvae, pupa, and adult) of [START]D. melanogaster[END]. The targeted semi-quantitative approach offers a comprehensive coverage of more than 400 lipid species spanning the lipid classes, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, triacylglycerols, and sterols.
",33954948
0,7227,"How commensal microbes shape the physiology of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
The interactions between animals and their commensal microbes profoundly influence the host's physiology. In the last decade, [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] has been extensively used as a model to study host-commensal microbes interactions. Here, we review the most recent advances in this field. We focus on studies that extend our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of commensal microbes on [START]Drosophila[END]'s development and lifespan. We emphasize how commensal microbes influence nutrition and the intestinal epithelium homeostasis; how they elicit immune tolerance mechanisms and how these physiological processes are interconnected. Finally, we discuss the importance of diets and microbial strains and show how they can be confounding factors of microbe mediated host phenotypes.
",32836177
0,7227,"The effect of inbreeding on fluctuating asymmetry of wing veins in two laboratory strains of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Many authors have proposed that inbreeding destabilizes developmental processes. This destabilization may be reflected by increased fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in inbred compared to relatively outbred populations, but many studies have failed to find such differences. We measured the left and right wings of a large number of individual [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] from two genetically distinct populations to estimate changes in FA caused by inbreeding. The large sample size and experimental design allowed removal of potentially confounding directional asymmetry (DA) and measurement error terms. Trait means in the two populations were essentially unchanged by inbreeding (less than 0.5% smaller in both populations). Inbred lines showed higher signed FA variances (16 and 38% higher, significantly so in one population) and higher unsigned FA means (3.7 and 13.2%, significantly increased in one population). Significant DA was found in both populations, although the pattern differed between populations. DA did not change due to inbreeding.
",19277055
0,7227,"Longevity for free? Increased reproduction with limited trade-offs in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] selected for increased life span.
Selection for increased life span in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] has been shown to correlate with decreased early fecundity and increased fecundity later in life. This phenomenon has been ascribed to the existence of trade-offs in which limited resources can be invested in either somatic maintenance or reproduction. In our longevity selection lines, we did not find such a trade-off. Rather, we find that females have similar or higher fecundity throughout life compared to non-selected controls. To determine whether increased longevity affects responses in other traits, we looked at several stress resistance traits (chill coma recovery, heat knockdown, desiccation and starvation), geotactic behaviour, egg-to-adult viability, body size, developmental time as well as metabolic rate. Longevity selected flies were more starvation resistant. However, in females longevity and fecundity were not negatively correlated with the other traits assayed. Males from longevity selected lines were slower at recovering from a chill induced coma and resting metabolic rate increased with age, but did not correlate with life span.
",23353929
0,7227,"Water acquisition and partitioning in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]: effects of selection for desiccation-resistance.
We examined physiological features related to water balance in five replicate populations of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] that have undergone selection for enhanced resistance to desiccation (D populations) and in five replicate control (C) populations. Adult D flies contain 34 % more water than the control flies. We examined two hypotheses for increased water acquisition in the D flies: (i) that they accumulate more water early in development and (ii) that they have a reduced post-eclosion diuretic water loss. We found no evidence of differential water or dry mass acquisition between the C and D populations prior to adulthood. We also found no evidence of differential post-eclosion diuresis, i.e. both C and D groups showed insignificant changes in water volume in the 4 h period immediately after eclosion. In addition, we quantified water content in the intra- and extracellular compartments of the C and D populations and were able to identify the hemolymph as the primary storage site of the 'extra' water carried by the desiccation-resistant flies. We estimated that 68 % of the increased water volume observed in the D flies was contained in the hemolymph. Desiccation-resistance was strongly correlated with hemolymph volume and only weakly with intracellular water volume. Survival during desiccation was also strongly related to the carbohydrate content of the D flies. It has been presumed that the D flies accumulate carbohydrate primarily as intracellular glycogen, which would result in a significant increase in intracellular water volume. We found that carbohydrate content was weakly correlated with intracellular water volume and more strongly with hemolymph volume. The carbohydrate pool in the D flies may, therefore, be contained in the extracellular compartment as well as in cells. These results are suggestive of the importance of modifications in hemolymph volume and hemolymph solute concentrations in the evolution of enhanced desiccation-tolerance in populations of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
",11606606
0,7227,"Microscopy methods for the study of centriole biogenesis and function in [START]Drosophila[END].
Centrosomes regulate cell motility, adhesion, and polarity in interphase and participate in spindle formation in mitosis. They are composed of two centrioles, which are microtubule-based structures, and a proteinaceous matrix recruited by those, called pericentriolar material. Centrioles are also necessary for the nucleation of the axoneme, the microtubule inner structure of cilia and flagella. The [START]fruit fly[END], [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], has played an important role in the study of cell biology processes and their contextualization in a variety of developmental phenomena. In this chapter, we describe immunofluorescence and electron microscopy methods used to study [START]Drosophila[END] early embryogenesis and spermatogenesis. These methods have been widely used to study centriole assembly and its function as a centrosome organizer during mitotic and meiotic cell divisions and as an axoneme nucleator in the formation of flagella.
",20719274
0,7227,"Chimaeras of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] obtained by injection of haploid nuclei.
Since the observation by Bridges of a few mosaics containing haploid tissue in [START]Drosophila[END], specimens supposedly haploid have rarely been found. A technique for the easy production of haploid animals or tissues could have important applications. We have now successfully designed such a technique by the production of chimaeras obtained by transplantation of haploid nuclei from a maternal effect mutant that produces haploid embryos. We have used this technique to test the proposal of Jack and Judd that the zeste locus of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] cannot repress the activity of unpaired alleles at the white locus.
",6776407
0,7227,"Lead retards development of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
1. Lead (Pb) is a ubiquitous environmental toxicant which has been reported to have growth-retarding effects. That premise was examined in the current study of the effects of developmental exposure to Pb on the maturation of the fruitfly [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. 2. Flies were raised from egg to adulthood in media to which 0, 100, 250, or 500 ppm Pb acetate added. 3. There was a dose-dependent delay of maturation but no apparent effect on survival to adulthood. There were no significant differences in this effect between male and female flies. 4. Weights of fly offspring and their fecundity were not related to increasing exposure levels, suggesting that the delays were not due to gross nutritional deficits. 5. Analyses of Pb content indicated exposure-dependent body burdens of Pb in flies. Timed analyses of the Pb content of media itself indicated a heterogeneous distribution of Pb in the media, suggesting some precipitation of Pb at the highest exposure, occurring primarily during the first hour. 6. The mechanistic bases of the Pb-induced retardation of [START]D. melanogaster[END] development remain unknown, but it is concluded that because of the extensive body of knowledge on [START]D. melanogaster[END] genetics, molecular biology, and developmental biology, this procedure could serve as a model system for further study of the developmental consequences of exposure to Pb or other toxicants. 7. Environmental Pb exposure resulting in retarded development could have deleterious repercussions for insect populations exposed chronically to high levels of Pb.
",1358527
0,7227,"[START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] positive transcriptional elongation factors regulate metabolic and sex-biased expression in adults.
BACKGROUND: Transcriptional elongation is a generic function, but is also regulated to allow rapid transcription responses. Following relatively long initiation and promoter clearance, RNA polymerase II can pause and then rapidly elongate following recruitment of positive elongation factors. Multiple elongation complexes exist, but the role of specific components in adult [START]Drosophila[END] is underexplored. RESULTS: We conducted RNA-seq experiments to analyze the effect of RNAi knockdown of Suppressor of Triplolethal and lilliputian. We similarly analyzed the effect of expressing a dominant negative Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 allele. We observed that almost half of the genes expressed in adults showed reduced expression, supporting a broad role for the three tested genes in steady-state transcript abundance. Expression profiles following lilliputian and Suppressor of Triplolethal RNAi were nearly identical raising the possibility that they are obligatory co-factors. Genes showing reduced expression due to these RNAi treatments were short and enriched for genes encoding metabolic or enzymatic functions. The dominant-negative Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 profiles showed both overlapping and specific differential expression, suggesting involvement in multiple complexes. We also observed hundreds of genes with sex-biased differential expression following treatment. CONCLUSION: Transcriptional profiles suggest that Lilliputian and Suppressor of Triplolethal are obligatory cofactors in the adult and that they can also function with Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 at a subset of loci. Our results suggest that transcriptional elongation control is especially important for rapidly expressed genes to support digestion and metabolism, many of which have sex-biased function.
",28521739
0,7227,"When neurobiology and genetics meet: the study of visual system development in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
The visual system of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] is an exceptionally well suited model to study the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying inter- and intracellular signalling during nervous system development. This review highlights some of the recent advances in this field, that show not only the power of the combined neurobiological and genetical approaches in shedding new light into long standing questions regarding nervous system development but also uncover a striking evolutionary conservation, at the molecular level, of the basic developmental pathways and signal transduction cascades underlying metazoan ontogenesis.
",8729270
0,7227,"The effects of age on radiation resistance and oxidative stress in adult [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
[START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] ([START]fruit fly[END]) is a well-established model organism for genetic studies of development and aging. We examined the effects of lethal ionizing radiation on male and female adult [START]Drosophila[END] of different ages, using doses of radiation from 200 to 1500 Gy. Fifty percent lethality 2 days postirradiation (LD(50/2)) in wild-type 1-day-old adult [START]fruit flies[END] was approximately 1238 Gy for males and 1339 Gy for females. We observed a significant age-dependent decline in the radiation resistance of both males and females. Radiation damage is postulated to occur by the generation of oxygen radicals. An age-related decline in the ability of flies to resist an agent that induces oxygen radicals, paraquat, was observed when comparing 10- and 20-day adults. Female flies are more resistant to paraquat than male flies. Oxidative stress mediated by paraquat was additive with sublethal exposures to radiation in young adults. Therefore, the ability to repair the damage caused by oxygen radicals seems to decline with the age of the flies. Because [START]Drosophila[END] adults are largely post-mitotic, our data suggest that adult [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] can serve as an excellent model to study the factors responsible for radiation resistance in post-mitotic tissue and age-dependent changes in this resistance.
",18494545
0,7227,"Alternative measures of response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Studies of invertebrate immune defence often measure genetic variation either for the fitness cost of infection or for the ability of the host to clear the parasite. These studies assume that variation in measures of resistance is related to variation in fitness costs of infection. To test this assumption, we infected strains of the [START]fruit fly[END], [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], with a pathogenic bacterium. We then measured the correlation between host bacterial load and the ability to survive infection. Despite the presence of genotypic variation for both traits, bacterial load and survival post-infection were not correlated. Our results support previous arguments that individual measures of immune function and the host's ability to survive infection may be decoupled. In light of these results, we suggest that the difference between tolerance and resistance to infection, a distinction commonly found in the plant literature, may also be of value in studies of invertebrate immunity.
",17305818
0,7227,"Does a relationship exist between spontaneous locomotor activity, fitness and lifespan in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]?
Spontaneous locomotor activity (SLA), fecundity, fertility and lifespan were measured in a wild laboratory strain of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] in order to ascertain whether there is a genetic correlation between these traits. In females there is no correlation either between SLA and fecundity or between SLA and lifespan. It is concluded that, although a high level of SLA probably constitutes a favorable behavioral component of fitness, this does not mean that more active females have a larger number of offspring and live longer than less active ones.
",6434339
0,7227,"Strong and weak cross-sex correlations govern the quantitative-genetic architecture of social group choice in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
When genotypes differ in niche-constructing traits, genotypes are expected to differ in which environments they experience, providing a novel causal relationship between genotypes, environments, and behavior. Such genetic variation in niche construction (or, more precisely, environment construction) is predicted to be especially important for social environments, yet the quantitative-genetic parameters governing such variation are still poorly understood. Here, we examine genetic variation and cross-sex genetic correlations for social environment-constructing behaviors. We focus on whether genetic variation in patch use-the tendency to spend time near food patches where conspecifics may be present-and group-size preference-the specific group size chosen when individuals are affiliating-is correlated or decoupled across sexes in the [START]fruit fly[END], [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. Across three choice treatments, we find genotype and sex differences in how much time individuals spend near patches, and which group sizes they prefer. We find that the genetic basis of patch use is strongly coupled across sexes, whereas the genetic basis of group-size preference is completely decoupled across sexes. We discuss how these findings augment and complicate our understanding of the evolutionary genetics of social behaviors.
",31769501
0,7227,"Reproductive fitness of [START]Drosophila[END] is maximised by optimal developmental temperature.
Whether the character of developmental plasticity is adaptive or non-adaptive has often been a matter of controversy. Although thermal developmental plasticity has been studied in [START]Drosophila[END] for several traits, it is not entirely clear how it affects reproductive fitness. We, therefore, investigated how developmental temperature affects reproductive performance (early fecundity and egg-to-adult viability) of wild-caught [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] We tested competing hypotheses on the character of developmental thermal plasticity using a full-factorial design with three developmental and adulthood temperatures within the natural thermal range of this species. To account for potential intraspecific differences, we examined flies from tropical (India) and temperate (Slovakia) climate zones. Our results show that flies from both populations raised at an intermediate developmental temperature (25 C) have comparable or higher early fecundity and fertility at all tested adulthood temperatures, while lower (17 C) or higher developmental temperatures (29 C) did not entail any advantage under the tested thermal regimes. Importantly, the superior thermal performance of flies raised at 25 C is apparent even after taking two traits positively associated with reproductive output into account: body size and ovariole number. Thus, in [START]D. melanogaster[END], development at a given temperature does not necessarily provide any advantage in this thermal environment in terms of reproductive fitness. Our findings strongly support the optimal developmental temperature hypothesis, which states that in different thermal environments, the highest fitness is achieved when an organism is raised at its optimal developmental temperature.
",31064855
0,7227,"The east gene of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] is expressed in the developing embryonic nervous system and is required for normal olfactory and gustatory responses of the adult.
[START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] larvae and adults respond to a wide range of chemosensory stimuli. We describe the genetics and developmental expression of the east gene, mutations which result in adult-specific chemosensory defects. The original isolate of east is semidominant for the behavioral phenotype. Several mutations have been generated, some of which are recessive lethals and others that are viable alleles that show a recessive, adult-specific, chemosensory defect. No larval chemosensory defects were observed. The east gene is expressed in the neurogenic region at the time of neuroblast segregation and in cells in the peripheral and central nervous system. Our results suggest that east+ expression in the nervous system is required for a normal adult chemosensory response and both increases and decreases in levels of the gene product result in a mutant phenotype.
",1426631
0,7227,"Anatomy and Physiology of the Digestive Tract of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
The gastrointestinal tract has recently come to the forefront of multiple research fields. It is now recognized as a major source of signals modulating food intake, insulin secretion and energy balance. It is also a key player in immunity and, through its interaction with microbiota, can shape our physiology and behavior in complex and sometimes unexpected ways. The insect intestine had remained, by comparison, relatively unexplored until the identification of adult somatic stem cells in the [START]Drosophila[END] intestine over a decade ago. Since then, a growing scientific community has exploited the genetic amenability of this insect organ in powerful and creative ways. By doing so, we have shed light on a broad range of biological questions revolving around stem cells and their niches, interorgan signaling and immunity. Despite their relatively recent discovery, some of the mechanisms active in the intestine of flies have already been shown to be more widely applicable to other gastrointestinal systems, and may therefore become relevant in the context of human pathologies such as gastrointestinal cancers, aging, or obesity. This review summarizes our current knowledge of both the formation and function of the [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] digestive tract, with a major focus on its main digestive/absorptive portion: the strikingly adaptable adult midgut.
",30287514
0,7227,"Effect of Thiovit(R) Jet on the structure of thoracic microtrichia/trichomes in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Widely used fungicides and pesticides are known to have profound effect on several nontarget organisms, which is a cause of concern. The present study aims to demonstrate the effect of a fungicide, Thiovit( ) Jet on the structure of epidermal microtrichia (trichome) of the dorsal thorax in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. External morphology and structural variations of thoracic appendages have been extensively studied using scanning electron microscope from flies treated with different concentrations of Thiovit Jet (20, 30, 40 or 200 mug/ml). Similar to the effect of other fungicides like captan and captafol which are reported to produce somatic mutations in the same organism, the present study successfully demonstrates variation in the trichome/microtrichia structure of the dorsal thorax of [START]D. melanogaster[END]. Structural variations were observed to be associated with different concentrations of Thiovit Jet (30, 40 and 200 mug/ml), but the maximum notable change was found with 40 mug/ml treatment. The gross abnormality in the trichome structure may be due to mutation in proteins associated with normal cuticular deposition.
",22301816
0,7227,"Combined expression patterns of QTL-linked candidate genes best predict thermotolerance in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Knockdown resistance to high temperature (KRHT) is a thermal adaptation trait in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. Here we used quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) to test for possible associations between KRHT and the expression of candidate genes within quantitative trait loci (QTL) in eight recombinant inbred lines (RIL). hsp60 and hsc70-3 map within an X-linked QTL, while CG10383, catsup, ddc, trap1, and cyp6a13 are linked in a KRHT-QTL on chromosome 2. hsc70-3 expression increased by heat-hardening. Principal Components analysis revealed that catsup, ddc and trap1 were either co-expressed or combined in their expression levels. This composite expression variable (e-PC1) was positively associated to KRHT in non-hardened RIL. In heat-hardened flies, hsp60 was negatively related to hsc70-3 on e-PC2, with effects on KRHT. These results are consistent with the notion that QTL can be shaped by expression variation in combined candidate loci. We found composite variables of gene expression (e-PCs) that best correlated to KRHT. Network effects with other untested linked loci are apparent because, in spite of their associations with KRHT phenotypes, e-PCs were sometimes uncorrelated with their QTL genotype.
",19651134
0,7227,"Analysis of neurotransmitter tissue content of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] in different life stages.
[START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] is a widely used model organism for studying neurological diseases with similar neurotransmission to mammals. While both larva and adult [START]Drosophila[END] have central nervous systems, not much is known about how neurotransmitter tissue content changes through development. In this study, we quantified tyramine, serotonin, octopamine, and dopamine in larval, pupal, and adult fly brains using capillary electrophoresis coupled to fast-scan cyclic voltammetry. Tyramine and octopamine content varied between life stages, with almost no octopamine being present in the pupa, while tyramine levels in the pupa were very high. Adult females had significantly higher dopamine content than males, but no other neurotransmitters were dependent on sex in the adult. Understanding the tissue content of different life stages will be beneficial for future work comparing the effects of diseases on tissue content throughout development.
",25437353
0,7227,"Genetic variability and robustness of host odor preference in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Chemosensory stimuli play a crucial role for host selection in insects, including the [START]fruit fly[END] [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. [START]Drosophila[END] has been instrumental in unraveling the neurological basis of olfactory processing in insects. Basic knowledge regarding chemical ecology and thorough studies of olfactory preferences are still lacking to a great extent in [START]D. melanogaster[END], however. We have characterized repeatable variation in olfactory preference between five classical [START]D. melanogaster[END] wild-type strains toward a large array of natural host odors and synthetic compounds. By recording the rate of attraction over up to 24 hr, we could compare stimuli varying in attractiveness and characterize phenotypic parameters on the basis of individual stimuli and the whole stimulus array. Behavioral differences between strains were predominantly due to variation in a single phenotypic parameter: their overall responsiveness toward optimal and suboptimal olfactory stimuli. These differences were not explained by variation in olfactory sensitivity, locomotory activity, or general vigor monitored by survival. Comparisons with three recently established wild-type strains indicated that a high behavioral threshold against accepting suboptimal olfactory stimuli is the characteristic phenotype of wild [START]D. melanogaster[END].
",18804372
0,7227,"[START]Drosophila[END] neuroscience: Unravelling the circuits of sensory-motor control in the fly.
Effective motor control requires the real-time transmission of information between sensory organs and the motor system. With the powerful techniques that are now available, [START]Drosophila[END] neuroscientists are unravelling the topology of the neural circuits that carry this information in the fly at synaptic resolution.
",33905699
0,7227,"Sexual isolation in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]: a possible case of incipient speciation.
It is generally believed that [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] has no closely related species with which it can produce the viable and fertile hybrids that are essential for the genetic analysis of speciation. Following the recent report of molecular differentiation between a Zimbabwe, Africa, population and two United States populations, we provide evidence that strong sexual isolation exists between the [START]D. melanogaster[END] population in Zimbabwe and populations of other continents. In the presence of males of their own kind, females from most isofemale lines of Zimbabwe would not mate with males from elsewhere; the reciprocal mating is also significantly reduced, but to a lesser degree. The genes for sexual behaviors are apparently polymorphic in Zimbabwe and postmating reproductive isolation between this and other populations has not yet evolved. Whole chromosome substitutions indicate significant genetic contributions to male mating success by both major autosomes, whereas the X chromosome effect is too weak to measure. In addition, the relative mating success between hybrid and pure line males supports the interpretation of strong female choice. These observations suggest that we are seeing the early stages of speciation in this group and that it is driven by sexual selection. The genetic and molecular tractability of [START]D. melanogaster[END] offers great promise for the detailed analysis of this apparent case of incipient speciation.
",7708677
0,7227,"Insulin signalling mediates the response to male-induced harm in female [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Genetic manipulations in nutrient-sensing pathways are known to both extend lifespan and modify responses to environmental stressors (e.g., starvation, oxidative and thermal stresses), suggesting that similar mechanisms regulate lifespan and stress resistance. However, despite being a key factor reducing female lifespan and affecting female fitness, male-induced harm has rarely been considered as a stressor mediated by nutrient sensing pathways. We explored whether a lifespan-extending manipulation also modifies female resistance to male-induced harm. To do so, we used long-lived female [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] that had their insulin signalling pathway downregulated by genetically ablating the median neurosecretory cells (mNSC). We varied the level of exposure to males for control and ablated females and tested for interacting effects on female lifespan and fitness. As expected, we found that lifespan significantly declined with exposure to males. However, mNSC-ablated females maintained significantly increased lifespan across all male exposure treatments. Furthermore, lifespan extension and relative fitness of mNSC-ablated females were maximized under intermediate exposure to males, and minimized under low and high exposure to males. Overall, our results suggest that wild-type levels of insulin signalling reduce female susceptibility to male-induced harm under intense sexual conflict, and may also protect females when mating opportunities are sub-optimally low.
",27457757
0,7227,"The adult component of selection in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]: some aspects of early-remating activity of females.
As an important factor of the adult component of selection, mating behaviour was studied in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], with emphasis on non-virgin females. We found that 30-50 per cent of the females in a laboratory population will remate within 6 h of first mating under no-choice conditions. This high percentage of early rematings was not due to the continuous confinement of the females with males but indicated a rapid return of receptivity of a significant proportion of the females. Remating behaviour was significantly influenced by both the genotype of the female and the genotype of her two successive partners. Age of females was only important insofar as it concerned young, 1 or 2-day old, females. These females showed less remating than older females. Willingness to remate was also affected by the number of sperm stored. Females that had been inseminated by less fertile males, i.e. males that had already mated two or three times, showed higher remating percentages than females inseminated by more fertile males. Notwithstanding this sperm effect, females were estimated to remate approximately every second day. It is suggested that a high frequency of remating and the resulting sperm competition are significant components of [START]Drosophila[END] life-history.
",8407356
0,7227,"Intraspecific competition favours niche width expansion in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Ecologists have proposed that when interspecific competition is reduced, competition within a species becomes a potent evolutionary force leading to rapid diversification. This view reflects the observation that populations invading species-poor communities frequently evolve broader niches. Niche expansion can be associated with an increase in phenotypic variance (known as character release), with the evolution of polymorphisms, or with divergence into many species using distinct resources (adaptive radiation). The relationship between intraspecific competition and diversification is known from theory, and has been used as the foundation for some models of speciation. However, there has been little empirical proof that niches evolve in response to intraspecific competition. To test this hypothesis, I introduced cadmium-intolerant [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] populations to environments containing both cadmium-free and cadmium-laced resources. Here I show that populations experiencing high competition adapted to cadmium more rapidly than low competition populations. This provides experimental confirmation that competition in a population can drive niche expansion onto new resources for which competition is less severe.
",11260712
0,7227,"Ecdysone signaling cascade and regulation of Drosophila metamorphosis.
Pulses of the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (ecdysone) regulate diverse biological responses during the life history of insects. Studies of the [START]fruit fly[END], [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], have provided significant insights into the mechanisms underlying ecdysone mediated regulation of development. During the dramatic metamorphosis of [START]Drosophila[END], ecdysone induces the histolysis of nearly all of the larval tissues and differentiation and morphogenesis of the structures composing the adult fly. These changes are mediated by a genetic signaling cascade that was first recognized as puffs in the giant polytene chromosomes of the salivary gland. This genetic regulatory cascade is composed of early and late genes that are intricately coordinated by changes in hormone titer. Early genes encode regulatory proteins that are involved in the proper regulation of late genes, which are thought to play a more direct role in development. The regulation and function of these genes is discussed in the context of the cell- and tissue-specific changes required for the reorganization of a larva to form an adult fly.
",8913033
0,7227,"The [START]Drosophila[END] TNF ortholog eiger is required in the fat body for a robust immune response.
Eiger is the sole TNF family member found in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. This signaling molecule is induced during infection and is required for an appropriate immune response to many microbes; however, little is known about where eiger is produced. Here, we show that eiger is made in the fly's fat body during a Salmonella typhimurium infection. Using tissue-specific knockdown, we found that eiger expression in the fat body is required for all of the phenotypes we observed in eiger null mutant flies. This includes reduced melanization, altered antimicrobial peptide expression and reduced feeding rates. The effect of eiger on feeding rates alone may account for the entire phenotype seen in eiger mutants infected with S. typhimurium.
",20505310
0,7227,"[Effects of diethylhexyl phthalate on lipid peroxidation and the life-span in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]].
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of diethlhexyl phthalate (DEHP) on lipid peroxidation and the life span in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. METHODS: Fed [START]Drosophila[END] with the concentration 0.20% DEHP of exposure after 0, 14, 28 days, the activity of total superoxide dismutase (SOD), CuZn-SOD and the concentration of malondialdehyde were determined. At the same time, the longevity test was carried out to examine the effect of DEHP on the [START]Drosophila[END]'s lifespan. RESULTS: The lifespan of [START]Drosophila[END] was shortened in a dose of DEHP exposed groups. The indexes of mean life span (MLS), 50% lethal time and mean maximum life span in three DEHP-treated groups (concentration of 0.05%, 0.10% and 0.20%) were lower than those of the controlled group respectively (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The MLS of both [START]Drosophila[END] sexes were reduced from the control of 64 days and 59 days to the test 60 days-52 days and 54 days-49 days respectively. DEHP decreased the activity of SOD (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and lead to a time-dependent relation and an increase in the concentration of malondialdehyde (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) in the DEHP-exposed [START]Drosophila[END] groups. CONCLUSION: DEHP might promote the process of lipid peroxidation and shorten the life span in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. It should be one of the reasons in the senescence of [START]Drosophila[END].
",15842832
0,7227,"Adaptation and Conservation throughout the [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] Life-Cycle.
Previous studies of the evolution of genes expressed at different life-cycle stages of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] have not been able to disentangle adaptive from nonadaptive substitutions when using nonsynonymous sites. Here, we overcome this limitation by combining whole-genome polymorphism data from [START]D. melanogaster[END] and divergence data between [START]D. melanogaster[END] and Drosophila yakuba. For the set of genes expressed at different life-cycle stages of [START]D. melanogaster[END], as reported in modENCODE, we estimate the ratio of substitutions relative to polymorphism between nonsynonymous and synonymous sites (alpha) and then alpha is discomposed into the ratio of adaptive (omegaa) and nonadaptive (omegana) substitutions to synonymous substitutions. We find that the genes expressed in mid- and late-embryonic development are the most conserved, whereas those expressed in early development and postembryonic stages are the least conserved. Importantly, we found that low conservation in early development is due to high rates of nonadaptive substitutions (high omegana), whereas in postembryonic stages it is due, instead, to high rates of adaptive substitutions (high omegaa). By using estimates of different genomic features (codon bias, average intron length, exon number, recombination rate, among others), we also find that genes expressed in mid- and late-embryonic development show the most complex architecture: they are larger, have more exons, more transcripts, and longer introns. In addition, these genes are broadly expressed among all stages. We suggest that all these genomic features are related to the conservation of mid- and late-embryonic development. Globally, our study supports the hourglass pattern of conservation and adaptation over the life-cycle.
",31028390
0,7227,"A genetic and developmental analysis of mutations in the Deformed locus in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Individuals expressing recessive mutations in the Deformed (Dfd) locus of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] were examined for embryonic and adult defects. Mutant embryos were examined in both scanning electron microscope and light microscope preparations. The adult Dfd recessive mutant phenotype was assessed in somatic clones and in survivors homozygous for hypomorphic alleles of the gene. The time of Dfd+ action was determined by studying a temperature conditional allele. Dfd+ is required in three embryonic cephalic segments to form a normal head. Mutant embryos of Dfd display defects in derivatives of the maxillary segment, of the mandibular segment, and of some more anterior segments. In the adult fly, defects are seen in the posterior aspect of the head when the gene is mutant. A transformation from head to thoracic-like tissue is seen dorsally and a deletion of structures is seen ventrally. Shift studies utilizing a temperature conditional allele have shown that the gene product is necessary during at least two periods of development, during embryonic segmentation and head involution and during the late larval and pupal stages. From these studies we conclude that Dfd is a homeotic gene necessary for proper specification of both the embryonic and the adult head.
",3109984
0,7227,"Phenotypic and genetic effects of contrasting ethanol environments on physiological and developmental traits in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
A central problem in evolutionary physiology is to understand the relationship between energy metabolism and fitness-related traits. Most attempts to do so have been based on phenotypic correlations that are not informative for the evolutionary potential of natural populations. Here, we explored the effect of contrasting ethanol environments on physiological and developmental traits, their genetic (co)variances and genetic architecture in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. Phenotypic and genetic parameters were estimated in two populations (San Fernando and Valdivia, Chile), using a half-sib family design where broods were split into ethanol-free and ethanol-supplemented conditions. Our findings show that metabolic rate, body mass and development times were sensitive (i.e., phenotypic plasticity) to ethanol conditions and dependent on population origin. Significant heritabilities were found for all traits, while significant genetic correlations were only found between larval and total development time and between development time and metabolic rate for flies of the San Fernando population developed in ethanol-free conditions. Posterior analyses indicated that the G matrices differed between ethanol conditions for the San Fernando population (mainly explained by differences in genetic (co)variances of developmental traits), whereas the Valdivia population exhibited similar G matrices between ethanol conditions. Our findings suggest that ethanol-free environment increases the energy available to reduce development time. Therefore, our results indicate that environmental ethanol could modify the process of energy allocation, which could have consequences on the evolutionary response of natural populations of [START]D. melanogaster[END].
",23505567
0,7227,"An assessment of sperm survival in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Recently published evidence based on cytological staining indicates that sperm die rapidly after being stored in female [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. However, measuring sperm death in this way has a potential artifact: the death of sperm owing to the extraction, mounting, and staining of sperm. Here we use a protocol that bypasses all of these potential extraneous mortality factors to test the hypothesis that there is high mortality of stored sperm in [START]D. melanogaster[END]. Contrary to the findings from cytological staining, our data indicates that mortality of stored sperm is quite low.
",17348926
0,7227,"Rapid divergence and convergence of life-history in experimentally evolved [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Laboratory selection experiments are alluring in their simplicity, power, and ability to inform us about how evolution works. A longstanding challenge facing evolution experiments with metazoans is that significant generational turnover takes a long time. In this work, we present data from a unique system of experimentally evolved laboratory populations of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] that have experienced three distinct life-history selection regimes. The goal of our study was to determine how quickly populations of a certain selection regime diverge phenotypically from their ancestors, and how quickly they converge with independently derived populations that share a selection regime. Our results indicate that phenotypic divergence from an ancestral population occurs rapidly, within dozens of generations, regardless of that population's evolutionary history. Similarly, populations sharing a selection treatment converge on common phenotypes in this same time frame, regardless of selection pressures those populations may have experienced in the past. These patterns of convergence and divergence emerged much faster than expected, suggesting that intermediate evolutionary history has transient effects in this system. The results we draw from this system are applicable to other experimental evolution projects, and suggest that many relevant questions can be sufficiently tested on shorter timescales than previously thought.
",27431916
0,7227,"Endosymbiont-based immunity in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] against parasitic nematode infection.
Associations between endosymbiotic bacteria and their hosts represent a complex ecosystem within organisms ranging from humans to protozoa. [START]Drosophila[END] species are known to naturally harbor Wolbachia and Spiroplasma endosymbionts, which play a protective role against certain microbial infections. Here, we investigated whether the presence or absence of endosymbionts affects the immune response of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] larvae to infection by Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes carrying or lacking their mutualistic Gram-negative bacteria Xenorhabdus nematophila (symbiotic or axenic nematodes, respectively). We find that the presence of Wolbachia alone or together with Spiroplasma promotes the survival of larvae in response to infection with S. carpocapsae symbiotic nematodes, but not against axenic nematodes. We also find that Wolbachia numbers are reduced in Spiroplasma-free larvae infected with axenic compared to symbiotic nematodes, and they are also reduced in Spiroplasma-containing compared to Spiroplasma-free larvae infected with axenic nematodes. We further show that S. carpocapsae axenic nematode infection induces the Toll pathway in the absence of Wolbachia, and that symbiotic nematode infection leads to increased phenoloxidase activity in [START]D. melanogaster[END] larvae devoid of endosymbionts. Finally, infection with either type of nematode alters the metabolic status and the fat body lipid droplet size in [START]D. melanogaster[END] larvae containing only Wolbachia or both endosymbionts. Our results suggest an interaction between Wolbachia endosymbionts with the immune response of [START]D. melanogaster[END] against infection with the entomopathogenic nematodes S. carpocapsae. Results from this study indicate a complex interplay between insect hosts, endosymbiotic microbes and pathogenic organisms.
",29466376
0,7227,"Neuronal homeostasis through translational control.
Translational repression is a key component of the mechanism that establishes segment polarity during early embryonic development in the fruitfly [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. Two proteins, Pumilio (Pum) and Nanos, block the translation of hunchback messenger RNA in only the posterior segments, thereby promoting an abdominal fate. More recent studies focusing on postembryonic neuronal function have shown that Pum is also integral to numerous mechanisms that allow neurons to adapt to the changing requirements placed on them in a dynamic nervous system. These mechanisms include those contributing to dendritic structure, synaptic growth, neuronal excitability, and formation of long-term memory. This article describes these new studies and highlights the role of translational repression in regulation of neuronal processes that compensate for change.
",16215276
0,7227,"Bacteria-induced sexual isolation in [START]Drosophila[END].
Commensal bacteria can induce sexual isolation between populations of [START]Drosophila[END]. This phenomenon has implications for speciation, and raises questions about its behavioral and developmental mechanisms, which are not yet known. In this Extra View, we discuss related work by others, bearing directly on these issues, and we speculate about how bacteria might influence fly behavior. There are many reports of interaction between [START]Drosophila[END] and their microbiota that significantly impacts mating preferences. Sexual isolation can be enhanced or reduced by altering the culture media, or the microbiota inhabiting those media. More dramatically, the endoparasite Wolbachia has induced strong mate preferences in some instances. While a sudden, ecologically induced shift in mating preferences falls far short of the changes required for speciation, it might be a first step in that direction. We hypothesize that bacteria-induced sexual isolation is caused by chemosensory cues. In our experiments, bacteria altered the profile of cuticular hydrocarbons, which function as sex pheromones. Commensal bacteria may act directly on these hydrocarbons, or they may affect their synthesis. Alternatively, bacterial metabolites might perfume the flies in ways that affect mate choice. In that event, habituation or conditioning likely plays a role.
",21525789
0,7227,"The effect of pathogens on selection against deleterious mutations in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
In natural populations, fitness is reduced by both deleterious mutations and parasites. Few studies have examined interactions between these two factors, particularly at the level of individual genes. We examined how the presence of a bacterial pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, affected the selection against each of eight deleterious mutations in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. We found that mutations tended to become more deleterious in the presence of disease. This increase in the average selection was primarily due to three genes with the remainder showing little evidence of change.
",19694894
0,7227,"[START]Drosophila[END] neuroblast asymmetric divisions: cell cycle regulators, asymmetric protein localization, and tumorigenesis.
Over the past decade, many of the key components of the genetic machinery that regulate the asymmetric division of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] neural progenitors, neuroblasts, have been identified and their functions elucidated. Studies over the past two years have shown that many of these identified components act to regulate the self-renewal versus differentiation decision and appear to function as tumor suppressors during larval nervous system development. In this paper, we highlight the growing number of molecules that are normally considered to be key regulators of cell cycle events/progression that have recently been shown to impinge on the neuroblast asymmetric division machinery to control asymmetric protein localization and/or the decision to self-renew or differentiate.
",18209103
0,7227,"Blood scent.
Blood cell production is tightly regulated by cell-intrinsic mechanisms and environmental factors. The study by Utpal Banerjee and colleagues and colleagues reveals that, in [START]Drosophila[END], olfactory signals control hematopoietic progenitor maintenance, thus uncovering a physiological link between sensory perception and hematopoietic response to environmental stress. 
",24267883
0,7227,"Drosophotoxicology: An Emerging Research Area for Assessing Nanoparticles Interaction with Living Organisms.
The rapid development of nanotechnology allowed the fabrication of a wide range of different nanomaterials, raising many questions about their safety and potential risks for the human health and environment. Most of the current nanotoxicology research is not standardized, hampering any comparison or reproducibility of the obtained results. Drosophotoxicology encompasses the plethora of methodological approaches addressing the use of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] as a choice organism in toxicology studies. [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] model offers several important advantages, such as a relatively simple genome structure, short lifespan, low maintenance cost, readiness of experimental manipulation comparative to vertebrate models from both ethical and technical points of view, relevant gene homology with higher organisms, and ease of obtaining mutant phenotypes. The molecular pathways, as well as multiple behavioral and developmental parameters, can be evaluated using this model in lower, medium or high throughput type assays, allowing a systematic classification of the toxicity levels of different nanomaterials. The purpose of this paper is to review the current research on the applications of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] model for the in vivo assessment of nanoparticles toxicity and to reveal the huge potential of this model system to provide results that could enable a proper selection of different nanostructures for a certain biomedical application.
",26907252
0,7227,"Cold temperature preference in bacterially infected [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] improves survival but is remarkably suboptimal.
Altering one's temperature preference (e.g. behavioral fever or behavioral chill) is a common immune defense among ectotherms that is likely to be evolutionarily conserved. However, the temperature chosen by an infected host may not be optimal for pathogen defense, causing preference to be inefficient. Here we examined the efficiency of temperature preference in Drosophila melanogaster infected with an LD50 of the gram negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. To this end, we estimated the host's uninfected and infected temperature preferences as well as their optimal survival temperature. We found that flies decreased their preference from 26.3 C to 25.2 C when infected, and this preference was stable over 48h. Furthermore, the decrease in temperature preference was associated with an increased chance of surviving the infection. Nevertheless, the infected temperature preference did not coincide with the optimum temperature for infection survival, which lies at or below 21.4 C. These data suggest that the behavioral response to P. aeruginosa infection is considerably inefficient, and the mechanisms that may account for this pattern are discussed. Future studies of infected temperature preferences should document its efficiency, as this understudied aspect of behavioral immunity can provide important insight into preference evolution.
",27530304
0,7227,"Sexual conflict in wing size and shape in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Intralocus sexual conflict occurs when opposing selection pressures operate on loci expressed in both sexes, constraining the evolution of sexual dimorphism and displacing one or both sexes from their optimum. We eliminated intralocus conflict in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] by limiting transmission of all major chromosomes to males, thereby allowing them to win the intersexual tug-of-war. Here, we show that this male-limited (ML) evolution treatment led to the evolution (in both sexes) of masculinized wing morphology, body size, growth rate, wing loading, and allometry. In addition to more male-like size and shape, ML evolution resulted in an increase in developmental stability for males. However, females expressing ML chromosomes were less developmentally stable, suggesting that being ontogenetically more male-like was disruptive to development. We suggest that sexual selection over size and shape of the imago may therefore explain the persistence of substantial genetic variation in these characters and the ontogenetic processes underlying them.
",20695965
0,7227,"Biological stoichiometry of growth in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
We examined the relationship between growth rate, C:N:P stoichiometry, and nucleic acid content in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. The ""Growth Rate Hypothesis"" predicts that N and P contents per unit body mass will be high during ontogenetic stages characterized by rapid growth, reflecting the large requirement for P-rich ribosomal RNA during these periods. The ratio of RNA:DNA also is predicted to change with changes in growth rate. Growth is rapid in early [START]D. melanogaster[END] larvae, slowing considerably just prior to pupation. As predicted, a positive relationship was found between growth rate and N and P content, but not C. Thus, body C:P and N:P ratios declined with increasing growth rate. The relationship between RNA content and growth rate also was positive. Additionally, the fraction of total body P contributed by ribosomal RNA increased with increasing growth rate.
",16310212
0,7227,"Genome-wide analysis of genes associated with moderate and high DDT resistance in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
BACKGROUND: Moderate to high DDT resistance in generally associated with overexpression of multiple genes and therefore has been considered to be polygenic. However, very little information is available about the molecular mechanisms that insect populations employ when evolving increased levels of resistance. The presence of common regulatory motifs among resistance-associated genes may help to explain how and why certain suites of genes are preferentially represented in genomic-scale analyses. RESULTS: A set of commonly differentially expressed genes associated with DDT resistance in the [START]fruit fly[END] was identified on the basis of genome-wide microarray analysis followed by qRT-PCR verification. More genes were observed to be overtranscribed in the highly resistant strain (91-R) than in the moderately resistant strain (Wisconsin) and susceptible strain (Canton-S). Furthermore, possible transcription factor binding sites that occurred in coexpressed resistance-associated genes were discovered by computational motif discovery methods. CONCLUSION: A glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-like putative transcription factor binding motif (TFBM) was observed to be associated with genes commonly differentially transcribed in both the 91-R and Wisconsin lines of DDT-resistant [START]Drosophila[END].
",23371854
0,7227,"Mechanisms and biological impacts of graphene and multi-walled carbon nanotubes on [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]: Oxidative stress, genotoxic damage, phenotypic variations, locomotor behavior, parasitoid resistance, and cellular immune response.
The use of graphene and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) has now become rather common in medical applications as well as several other areas thanks to their useful physicochemical properties. While in vitro testing offers some potential, in vivo research into toxic effects of graphene and MWCNTs could yield much more reliable data. [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] has recently gained significant popularity as a dynamic eukaryotic model in examining toxicity, genotoxicity, and biological effects of exposure to nanomaterials, including oxidative stress, cellular immune response against two strains (NSRef and G486) of parasitoid wasp (Leptopilina boulardi), phenotypic variations, and locomotor behavior risks. [START]D. melanogaster[END] was used as a model organism in our study to identify the potential risks of exposure to graphene (thickness: 2-18 nm) and MWCNTs in different properties (as pure [OD: 10-20 nm short], modified by amide [NH2 ] [OD: 7-13 nm length: 55 mum], and modified by carboxyl [COOH] [OD: 30-50 nm and length: 0.5-2 mum]) at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 250 mug/ml. Significant effects were observed at two high doses (100 and 250 mug/ml) of graphene or MWCNTs. This is the first study to report findings of cellular immune response against hematopoiesis and parasitoids, nanogenotoxicity, phenotypic variations, and locomotor behavior in [START]D. melanogaster[END].
",34486762
0,7227,"Neurogenetics of female reproductive behaviors in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
We follow an adult [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] female through the major reproductive decisions she makes during her lifetime, including habitat selection, precopulatory mate choice, postcopulatory physiological changes, polyandry, and egg-laying site selection. In the process, we review the molecular and neuronal mechanisms allowing females to integrate signals from both environmental and social sources to produce those behavioral outputs. We pay attention to how an understanding of [START]D. melanogaster[END] female reproductive behaviors contributes to a wider understanding of evolutionary processes such as pre- and postcopulatory sexual selection as well as sexual conflict. Within each section, we attempt to connect the theories that pertain to the evolution of female reproductive behaviors with the molecular and neurobiological data that support these theories. We draw attention to the fact that the evolutionary and mechanistic basis of female reproductive behaviors, even in a species as extensively studied as [START]D. melanogaster[END], remains poorly understood. 
",24880733
0,7227,"Physiological Maturation Lags Behind Behavioral Maturation in Newly Eclosed [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] Males.
The accessory gland (AG) produces seminal fluid proteins that are transferred to the female upon mating in many insects. These seminal fluid proteins often promote a male's post-copulatory reproductive success. Despite its crucial function many males eclose with a small gland not yet containing the full set of proteins. Thus, they need a physiological maturation period. Using [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], we tested whether this physiological maturation is linked to behavioral maturation in males and to what extent seminal fluid allocation patterns are influenced by physiological maturation. To that end, we measured AG protein content (as a proxy for physiological maturation) of young, immature males that were either successful in gaining a mating, but prevented from transferring seminal fluid proteins, or unsuccessful, thus using mating success as a proxy for behavioral maturation. Furthermore, we compared ejaculate allocation in immature and mature males in a single mating. Though mating success and gland maturation increase with male age, we found no evidence for a fine-tuned synchronization of behavioral and physiological maturation in males. This is especially surprising since we found reduced ejaculate allocation in very young, immature males, hinting at reduced fitness benefits from early matings in [START]D. melanogaster[END].
",30588207
0,7227,"Evidence that natural selection maintains genetic variation for sleep in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
BACKGROUND: [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] often shows correlations between latitude and phenotypic or genetic variation on different continents, which suggests local adaptation with respect to a heterogeneous environment. Previous phenotypic analyses of latitudinal clines have investigated mainly physiological, morphological, or life-history traits. Here, we studied latitudinal variation in sleep in [START]D. melanogaster[END] populations from North and Central America. In parallel, we used RNA-seq to identify interpopulation gene expression differences. RESULTS: We found that in [START]D. melanogaster[END] the average nighttime sleep bout duration exhibits a latitudinal cline such that sleep bouts of equatorial populations are roughly twice as long as those of temperate populations. Interestingly, this pattern of latitudinal variation is not observed for any daytime measure of activity or sleep. We also found evidence for geographic variation for sunrise anticipation. Our RNA-seq experiment carried out on heads from a low and high latitude population identified a large number of gene expression differences, most of which were time dependent. Differentially expressed genes were enriched in circadian regulated genes and enriched in genes potentially under spatially varying selection. CONCLUSION: Our results are consistent with a mechanistic and selective decoupling of nighttime and daytime activity. Furthermore, the present study suggests that natural selection plays a major role in generating transcriptomic variation associated with circadian behaviors. Finally, we identified genomic variants plausibly causally associated with the observed behavioral and transcriptomic variation.
",25887180
0,7227,"[START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] as a model organism of brain diseases.
[START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] has been utilized to model human brain diseases. In most of these invertebrate transgenic models, some aspects of human disease are reproduced. Although investigation of rodent models has been of significant impact, invertebrate models offer a wide variety of experimental tools that can potentially address some of the outstanding questions underlying neurological disease. This review considers what has been gleaned from invertebrate models of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, metabolic diseases such as Leigh disease, Niemann-Pick disease and ceroid lipofuscinoses, tumor syndromes such as neurofibromatosis and tuberous sclerosis, epilepsy as well as CNS injury. It is to be expected that genetic tools in [START]Drosophila[END] will reveal new pathways and interactions, which hopefully will result in molecular based therapy approaches.
",19333415
0,7227,"Care and feeding of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
The information provided here should allow you to begin working with [START]Drosophila[END]. Mine your colleagues for alternative approaches, improvements, and refinements and develop your own. If you find a new and better way to do any aspect of fly work, take the time to share it with your colleagues through bionet.[START]drosophila[END] or DIN.
",7707948
0,7227,"The effect of deleterious mutations and age on recombination in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
At the population level, recombination mediates the efficiency with which selection can eliminate deleterious mutations. At the individual level, deleterious alleles may influence recombination, which would change the rate at which linkage disequilibrium is eroded and thereby alter the efficiency with which deleterious alleles are purged. Here, we test whether the presence of a deleterious allele on one autosome affects recombination on another autosome. We find that deleterious alleles not only alter the rate but also the pattern of recombination. However, there is little support that different deleterious alleles affect recombination in a consistent manner. Because we have detailed information on individual females across their lifetimes, we are able to examine how recombination patterns change with age and find that these patterns are also affected by the presence of deleterious alleles. The differences among genotypes or among age classes are large enough to add substantial noise to genetic mapping experiments that do not consider these sources of variation.
",22276549
0,7227,"Cellular basis and developmental timing in a size cline of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
We examined 20 [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] populations collected from a 2600-km north-south transect in Australia. In laboratory culture at constant temperature and standard larval density, a genetic cline in thorax length and wing area was found, with both traits increasing with latitude. The cline in wing area was based on clines in both cell size and cell number, but was primarily determined by changes in cell number. Body size and larval development time were not associated among populations. We discuss our results in the context of selection processes operating in natural and experimental populations.
",7498744
0,7227,"The effects of microgravity on the character of progeny of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
To study how the microgravitational environment influences the character of the progeny of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], the S1 insects produced during the 8-days of space flight were self-bred for four generations. Higher variational rate was found in S2. After removing the variant flies, the variational rate of the remaining [START]Drosophila[END] progeny decreased generation by generation. There was no notable sex-linked recessive lethal mutation of parent flies and no gene mutation found in their test-cross examination. It indicates that the germ-cell of parent adult flies were not much influenced by microgravity, but the embryo of filial generation bred in space were greatly influenced by microgravity. Therefore, the mutagenesis during the embryogenic development should be taken into account in the bio-breeding under the space microgravitational environment.
",11541480
0,7227,"The role of commensal microbes in the lifespan of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Commensal microbes have mutualistic relationships with their host and mainly live in the host intestine. There are many studies on the relationships between commensal microbes and host physiology. However, there are inconsistent results on the effects of commensal microbes on host lifespan. To clarify this controversy, we generated axenic flies by using two controlled methods - bleaching and antibiotic treatment - and investigated the relationship between the commensal microbes and host lifespan in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. The removal of microbes by using bleaching and antibiotic treatments without detrimental effects increased fly lifespan. Furthermore, a strain of flies colonized with a high load of microbiota showed a greater effect on lifespan extension when the microbes were eliminated, suggesting that commensal bacteria abundance may be a critical determinant of host lifespan. Consistent with those observations, microbial flora of aged fly gut significantly decreased axenic fly lifespan via an increase in bacterial load rather than through a change of bacterial composition. Our elaborately controlled experiments showed that the elimination of commensal microbes without detrimental side effects increased fly lifespan, and that bacterial load was a significant determinant of lifespan. Furthermore, our results indicate the presence of a deterministic connection between commensal microbes and host lifespan.
",31299010
0,7227,"[START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] and the future of 'evo-devo' biology in space. Challenges and problems in the path of an eventual colonization project outside the earth.
Space exploration, especially its future phase involving the International Space Station (ISS) makes possible the study of the effects on living systems of long-term expositions to such a strange environment. This phase is being initiated when Biological Sciences are crossing a no-return line into a new territory where the connection between phenotype and genotype may be finally made. We briefly review the paradoxical results obtained in Space experiments performed during the last third of the XX Century. They reveal that simple unicellular systems sense the absence of gravity changing their cytoskeletal organization and the signal transduction pathways, while animal development proceeds unaltered in these conditions, in spite of the fact that these processes are heavily involved in embryogenesis. Longer-term experiments possible in the ISS may solve this apparent contradiction. On the other hand, the current constraints on the scientific use of the ISS makes necessary the development of new hardware and the modification of current techniques to start taking advantage of this extraordinary technological facility. We discuss our advances in this direction using one of the current key biological model systems, [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END]. In addition, the future phase of Space exploration, possibly leading to the exploration and, may be, the colonization of another planet, will provide the means of performing interesting evolutionary experiments, studying how the terrestrial biological systems will change in their long-term adaptation to new, very different environments. In this way, Biological Research in Space may contribute to the advancement of the new Biology, in particular to the branch known as ""Evo-Devo"". On the other hand, as much as the Space Adventure will continue involving human beings as the main actors in the play, long-term multi-generation experiments using a fast reproducing species, such as [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], capable of producing more than 300 generations in 15 years, the useful life foreseen for ISS, will be important. Among other useful information, they will help in detecting the possible changes that a biological species may undergo in such an environment, preventing the uncontrolled occurrence of irreversible deleterious effects with catastrophic consequences on the living beings participating in this endeavour.
",14631629
0,7227,"Estimating the heritability of female lifetime fecundity in a locally adapted [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] population.
The heritability of genome-wide fitness that is expected in finite populations is poorly understood, both theoretically and empirically, despite its relevance to many fundamental concepts in evolutionary biology. In this study, we used two independent methods of estimating the heritability of lifetime female fecundity (the predominant female fitness component in this population) in a large, outbred population of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] that had adapted to the laboratory environment for over 400 generations. Despite strong directional selection on adult female fecundity, we uncovered high heritability for this trait that cannot be explained by antagonistic pleiotropy with juvenile fitness. The evolutionary significance of this high heritability of lifetime fecundity is discussed.
",19210593
0,7227,"Turning food into eggs: insights from nutritional biology and developmental physiology of [START]Drosophila[END].
Nutrition plays a central role in fecundity, regulating the onset of reproductive maturity, egg production, and the survival and health of offspring from insects to humans. Although decades of research have worked to uncover how nutrition mediates these effects, it has proven difficult to disentangle the relative role of nutrients as the raw material for egg and offspring development versus their role in stimulating endocrine cascades necessary to drive development. This has been further complicated by the fact that both nutrients and the signalling cascades they regulate interact in complex ways to control fecundity. Separating the two effects becomes important when trying to understand how fecundity is regulated, and in devising strategies to offset the negative effects of nutrition on reproductive health. In this review, we use the extensive literature on egg development in the [START]fruit fly[END] [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] to explore how the nutrients from food provide the building blocks and stimulate signalling cascades necessary for making an egg.
",31109673
0,7227,"Life-history traits of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] populations exhibiting early and late eclosion chronotypes.
BACKGROUND: The hypothesis that circadian clocks confer adaptive advantage to organisms has been proposed based on its ubiquity across almost all levels of complexity and organization of life-forms. This thought has received considerable attention, and studies employing diverse strategies have attempted to investigate it. However, only a handful of them have examined how selection for circadian clock controlled rhythmic behaviors influences life-history traits which are known to influence Darwinian fitness. The 'early' and 'late' chronotypes are amongst the most widely studied circadian phenotypes; however, life-history traits associated with these chronotypes, and their consequences on Darwinian fitness remain largely unexplored, primarily due to the lack of a suitable model system. Here we studied several life-history traits of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] populations that were subjected to laboratory selection for morning (early) and evening (late) emergence. RESULTS: We report that the late eclosion chronotypes evolved longer pre-adult duration as compared to the early eclosion chronotypes both under light/dark (LD) and constant dark (DD) conditions, and these differences appear to be mediated by both clock dependent and independent mechanisms. Furthermore, longer pre-adult duration in the late chronotypes does not lead to higher body-mass at pupariation or eclosion, but the late females were significantly more fecund and lived significantly shorter as compared to the early females. CONCLUSIONS: Coevolution of multiple life-history traits in response to selection on timing of eclosion highlights correlations of the genetic architecture governing timing of eclosion with that of fitness components which suggests that timing ecologically relevant behaviors at specific time of the day might confer adaptive advantage.
",26922082
0,7227,"Consequences of chronic bacterial infection in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
Even when successfully surviving an infection, a host often fails to eliminate a pathogen completely and may sustain substantial pathogen burden for the remainder of its life. Using systemic bacterial infection in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], we characterize chronic infection by three bacterial species from different genera - Providencia rettgeri, Serratia marcescens, and Enterococcus faecalis-following inoculation with a range of doses. To assess the consequences of these chronic infections, we determined the expression of antimicrobial peptide genes, survival of secondary infection, and starvation resistance after one week of infection. While higher infectious doses unsurprisingly lead to higher risk of death, they also result in higher chronic bacterial loads among the survivors for all three infections. All three chronic infections caused significantly elevated expression of antimicrobial peptide genes at one week post-infection and provided generalized protection again secondary bacterial infection. Only P. rettgeri infection significantly influenced resistance to starvation, with persistently infected flies dying more quickly under starvation conditions relative to controls. These results suggest that there is potentially a generalized mechanism of protection against secondary infection, but that other impacts on host physiology may depend on the specific pathogen. We propose that chronic infections in [START]D. melanogaster[END] could be a valuable tool for studying tolerance of infection, including impacts on host physiology and behavior.
",31648237
0,7227,"Spatial and temporal expression of the period gene in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
The temporal and spatial expression of the period gene of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END] has been analyzed by examining the expression of a per beta-galactosidase fusion gene in transformants and by in situ hybridization experiments with wild-type flies. Several strains of [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END], transformed with the fusion gene, have been generated. The gene is active in mid-late embryos in the midline of the nervous system. Thereafter, beta-galactosidase activity is undetectable until the pupal stage when the prothoracic gland-corpora allata and the optic lobes are beta-galactosidase positive. In adults a surprisingly large number of tissues stain positively, including antennae, proboscis, eyes, optic lobes, cells of the central brain, cells of the thoracic ganglia, gut, Malpighian tubules, and ovarian follicle cells. The temporal pattern of expression agrees well with previous estimates made from developmental Northern blots with RNA extracted from wild-type animals. We suggest that many of the tissues that express the per gene contain their own intrinsic oscillator activity.
",3129339
0,7227,"Determination of blastoderm cells in [START]Drosophila melanogaster[END].
A method for culturing blastoderm cells of [START]Drosophila[END] in vivo has been developed that allows these cells to differentiate into larval or adult structures. By intermixture of genetically marked cells from bisected and whole embryos, it was shown that blastoderm cells are restricted in their potential for forming adult epidermal structures. Cells isolated from anterior-half embryos are determined for forming head and thoracic structures, whereas cells from posterior-half embryos are determined for forming thoracic and abdominal structures. The specificity of determination and the localization of determinative factors is discussed.
",5002429
0,7227,"The effects of genetic background on exercise performance in [START]Drosophila[END].
The use of the [START]Drosophila[END] model for studying the broad beneficial effects of exercise training has grown over the past decade. As work using [START]Drosophila[END] as an exercise model becomes more widespread, the influence of genetic background on performance should be examined in order to better understand its influence on assessments used to quantitatively measure and compare exercise phenotypes. In this article, we review the various methods of exercise training [START]Drosophila[END], and the performance of different wild-type [START]Drosophila[END] strains on various physiological assessments of exercise response. We conclude by summarizing the performance trends of commonly used strains.
",33100141
0,7130,"Neuroethology of oviposition behavior in the moth [START]Manduca sexta[END].
Olfactory cues play decisive roles in the lives of most insect species, providing information about biologically relevant resources, such as food, mates, and oviposition sites. The nocturnal moth [START]Manduca sexta[END] feeds on floral nectar from a variety of plants (and thus serves as a pollinator), but females oviposit almost exclusively on solanaceous plants, which they recognize on the basis of olfactory cues. Plants, however, respond to herbivory by releasing blends of volatiles that attract natural enemies of herbivores. Thus, oviposition behavior probably results from the sensory evaluation not only of attractive host plant volatiles but also of repellent volatiles that indicate the acceptability or inappropriateness, respectively, of host plants for the females' offspring. Here we describe results from chemical-ecological, neurophysiological, and behavioral experiments aimed at understanding the neural mechanisms that control oviposition behavior in [START]M. sexta[END].
",19686178
0,7130,"Allatoregulatory peptides in Lepidoptera, structures, distribution and functions.
Allatoregulatory peptides either inhibit (allatostatins) or stimulate (allatotropins) juvenile hormone (JH) synthesis by the corpora allata (CA) of insects. However, these peptides are pleitropic, the regulation of JH biosynthesis is not their only function. There are currently three allatostatin families (A-, B-, and C-type allatostatins) that inhibit JH biosynthesis, and two structurally unrelated allatotropins. The C-type allatostatin, characterised by its blocked N-terminus and a disulphide bridge between its two cysteine residues, was originally isolated from [START]Manduca sexta[END]. This peptide exists only in a single from in Lepidoptera and is the only peptide that has been shown to inhibit JH synthesis by the CA in vitro in this group of insects. The C-type allatostatin also inhibits spontaneous contractions of the foregut. The A-type allatostatins, which exist in multiple forms in a single insect, have also been characterised from Lepidoptera. This family of peptides does not appear to have any regulatory effect on JH biosynthesis, but does inhibit foregut muscle contractions. Two structurally unrelated allatotropins stimulate JH biosynthesis in Lepidoptera. The first was identified in [START]M. sexta[END] (Manse-AT) and occurs in other moths. The second (Spofr AT2) has only been identified in Spodoptera frugiperda. [START]Manduca sexta[END] allatotropin also stimulates heart muscle contractions and gut peristalsis, and inhibits ion transport across the midgut of larval [START]M. sexta[END]. The C-terminal (amide) pentapeptide of Manse-AT is important for JH biosynthesis activity. The most active conformation of Manse-AS requires the disulphide bridge, although the aromatic residues also have a significant effect on biological activity. Both A- and C-type allatostatins and Manse-AT are localised in neurosecretory cells of the brain and are present in the corpora cardiaca, CA and ventral nerve cord, although variations in localisation exist in different moths and at different stages of development. The presence of Manse-AS and Manse-AT in the CA correlates with the biological activity of these peptides on JH biosynthesis. There is currently no explanation for the presence of A-type allatostatins in the CA. The three peptide types are also co-localised in neurosecretory cells of the frontal ganglion, and are present in the recurrent nerve that supplies the muscles of the gut, particularly the crop and stomodeal valve, in agreement with their role in the regulation of gut peristalsis. There is also evidence that they are expressed in the midgut and reproductive tissues.
",18377924
0,7130,"Identification and developmental profiling of conserved and novel microRNAs in [START]Manduca sexta[END].
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small RNAs involved in translation inhibition or mRNA degradation. Due to its large size, [START]Manduca sexta[END] has long been used as a model to study insect physiology and biochemistry. While transcriptome studies have greatly enriched our knowledge on [START]M. sexta[END] structural genes, little is known about posttranscriptional regulation by miRNAs in this lepidopteran species. We constructed four small RNA libraries from embryos, 4th instar feeding larvae, pupae, and adults, obtained 21 million reads of 18-31 nucleotides by Illumina sequencing, and found 163 conserved and 13 novel miRNAs. By searching the [START]M. sexta[END] genome assembly, we identified precursors of 82 conserved miRNAs, 76 of which had mapped reads in one or more of these libraries. After normalization, we compared numbers of miRNA and miRNA-star reads in these libraries and observed abundance changes during development. Interestingly, mse-miR-281-star, mse-miR-31-star, mse-miR-965-star, mse-miR-9a-star, mse-miR-9b-star, mse-miR-2a-star, mse-miR-92b-star and mse-miR-279c-star are either more abundant or maintained at similar levels compared to respective mature miRNA strand. Expression profiling of the first set of miRNAs provided insights to their possible involvement in developmental regulation. This study will aid in the annotation of miRNA genes in the genome.
",22406339
0,7130,"Identification of parasite-responsive cysteine proteases in [START]Manduca sexta[END].
Parasites have evolved different virulence strategies to manipulate host physiological functions. The parasitoid wasp Cotesia congregata induces developmental arrest and immune suppression of its Lepidopteran host [START]Manduca sexta[END]. In this interaction, a symbiotic virus (C. congregata Bracovirus, CcBV) associated with the wasp is essential for parasitism success. The virus is injected into the host with wasp eggs and virus genes are expressed in host tissues. Among potential CcBV virulence genes, cystatins, which are tight binding inhibitors of C1A cysteine proteases, are suspected to play an important role in the interaction owing to their high level of expression. So far, however, potential in vivo targets in [START]M. sexta[END] are unknown. Here, we characterized for the first time four [START]M. sexta[END] C1A cysteine proteases corresponding to cathepsin L and cathepsin B and two different '26-29 kDa' cysteine proteases (MsCath1 and MsCath2). Our analyses revealed that MsCath1 and MsCath2 are transcriptionally downregulated in the course of parasitism. Moreover, viral Cystatin1 and MsCath1 co-localize in the plasma following parasitism, strongly suggesting that they interact. We also show that parasitism induces a general increase of cysteine protease activity which is later controlled. The potential involvement of cysteine proteases in defense against parasitoids is discussed.
",19361282
0,7130,"Immune Defense Varies within an Instar in the [START]Tobacco Hornworm[END], [START]Manduca sexta[END].
Research on how insect immunity changes with age as insects develop within an instar, or larval developmental stage, is limited and contradictory. Insects within an instar are preparing for the next developmental stage, which may involve changes in morphology or habitat. Immunity may also vary accordingly. To determine how immunity varies in the fifth instar, we tested humoral immune responses, antimicrobial peptide activity, and phenoloxidase activity using the [START]tobacco hornworm[END], [START]Manduca sexta[END]. We determined that while [START]M. sexta[END] have more robust antimicrobial peptide and phenoloxidase responses at the beginning of their fifth instar, this did not translate into better survival of bacterial infection or lower bacterial load in the hemolymph. We also determined that [START]M. sexta[END] injected with bacteria early in the fifth instar experience lower growth rates and longer development times than caterpillars of the same age injected with sham. This could indicate a shift in energy allocation from growth and development to metabolically costly immune responses. Because of the importance of insects as pests and pollinators, understanding how immunity varies throughout development is critical.
",25730277
0,7130,"De novo genome assembly of the [START]tobacco hornworm[END] moth ([START]Manduca sexta[END]).
The [START]tobacco hornworm[END], [START]Manduca sexta[END], is a lepidopteran insect that is used extensively as a model system for studying insect biology, development, neuroscience, and immunity. However, current studies rely on the highly fragmented reference genome Msex_1.0, which was created using now-outdated technologies and is hindered by a variety of deficiencies and inaccuracies. We present a new reference genome for [START]M. sexta[END], JHU_Msex_v1.0, applying a combination of modern technologies in a de novo assembly to increase continuity, accuracy, and completeness. The assembly is 470 Mb and is ~20x more continuous than the original assembly, with scaffold N50 > 14 Mb. We annotated the assembly by lifting over existing annotations and supplementing with additional supporting RNA-based data for a total of 25,256 genes. The new reference assembly is accessible in annotated form for public use. We demonstrate that improved continuity of the [START]M. sexta[END] genome improves resequencing studies and benefits future research on [START]M. sexta[END] as a model organism.
",33561252
0,7130,"Expression and evolution of hexamerins from the [START]tobacco hornworm[END], [START]Manduca sexta[END], and other Lepidoptera.
Hexamerins are large hemolymph-proteins that accumulate during the late larval stages of insects. Hexamerins have emerged from hemocyanin, but have lost the ability to bind oxygen. Hexamerins are mainly considered as storage proteins for non-feeding stages, but may also have other functions, e.g. in cuticle formation, transport and immune response. The genome of the hornworm [START]Manduca sexta[END] harbors six hexamerin genes. Two of them code for arylphorins (Msex2.01690, Msex2.15504) and two genes correspond to a methionine-rich hexamerin (Msex2.10735) and a moderately methionine-rich hexamerin (Msex2.01694), respectively. Two other genes do not correspond to any known hexamerin and distantly resemble the arylphorins (Msex2.01691, Msex2.01693). Five of the six hexamerin genes are clustered within ~45 kb on scaffold 00023, which shows conserved synteny in various lepidopteran genomes. The methionine-rich hexamerin gene is located at a distinct site. [START]M. sexta[END] and other Lepidoptera have lost the riboflavin-binding hexamerin. With the exception of Msex2.01691, which displays low mRNA levels throughout the life cycle, all hexamerins are most highly expressed during pre-wandering phase of the 5th larval instar of [START]M. sexta[END], supporting their role as storage proteins. Notably, Msex2.01691 is most highly expressed in the brain, suggesting a divergent function. Phylogenetic analyses showed that hexamerin evolution basically follows insect systematics. Lepidoptera display an unparalleled diversity of hexamerins, which exceeds that of other hexapod orders. In contrast to previous analyses, the lepidopteran hexamerins were found monophyletic. Five distinct types of hexamerins have been identified in this order, which differ in terms of amino acid composition and evolutionary history: i. the arylphorins, which are rich in aromatic amino acids (~20% phenylalanine and tyrosine), ii. the distantly related arylphorin-like hexamerins, iii. the methionine-rich hexamerins, iv. the moderately methionine rich hexamerins, and v. the riboflavin-binding hexamerins.
",25497415
0,7130,"A metalloprotease secreted by the insect pathogen Photorhabdus luminescens induces melanization.
Photorhabdus luminescens is a gram-negative insect pathogen that enters the hemocoel of infected hosts and produces a number of secreted proteins that promote colonization and subsequent death of the insect. In initial studies to determine the exact role of individual secreted proteins in insect pathogenesis, concentrated culture supernatants from various P. luminescens strains were injected into the [START]tobacco hornworm[END] [START]Manduca sexta[END]. Culture supernatants from P. luminescens TT01, the genome-sequenced strain, stimulated a rapid melanization reaction in [START]M. sexta[END]. Comparison of the profiles of secreted proteins from the various Photorhabdus strains revealed a single protein of approximately 37 kDa that was significantly overrepresented in the TT01 culture supernatant. This protein was purified by DEAE ion-exchange and Superdex 75 gel filtration chromatography and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight analysis as the product of the TT01 gene plu1382 (NCBI accession number NC_005126); we refer to it here as PrtS. PrtS is a member of the M4 metalloprotease family. Injection of PrtS into larvae of [START]M. sexta[END] and Galleria mellonella and into adult Drosophila melanogaster and D. melanogaster melanization mutants (Bc) confirmed that the purified protein induced the melanization reaction. The prtS gene was transcribed by P. luminescens injected into [START]M. sexta[END] before death of the insect, suggesting that the protein was produced during infection. The exact function of this protease during infection is not clear. The bacteria might survive inside the insect despite the melanization process, or it might be that the bacterium is specifically activating melanization in an attempt to circumvent this innate immune response.
",17933944
0,7130,"[START]Manduca sexta[END] serpin-12 controls the prophenoloxidase activation system in larval hemolymph.
Insect prophenoloxidase activation is coordinated by a serine protease network, which is regulated by serine protease inhibitors of the serpin superfamily. The enzyme system also leads to proteolytic processing of a Spatzle precursor. Binding of Spatzle to a Toll receptor turns on a signaling pathway to induce the synthesis of defense proteins. Previous studies of the [START]tobacco hornworm[END] [START]Manduca sexta[END] have revealed key members of the protease cascade, which generates phenoloxidase for melanogenesis and Spatzle to induce immunity-related genes. Here we provide evidence that [START]M. sexta[END] serpin-12 regulates hemolymph protease-14 (HP14), an initiating protease of the cascade. This inhibitor, unlike the other serpins characterized in [START]M. sexta[END], has an amino-terminal extension rich in hydrophilic residues and an unusual P1 residue (Leu429) right before the scissile bond cleaved by a target protease. Serpins with similarities to serpin-12, including Drosophila Necrotic, were identified in a wide range of insects including flies, moths, wasps, beetles, and two hemimetabolous species. The serpin-12 mRNA is present at low, constitutive levels in larval fat body and hemocytes and becomes more abundant after an immune challenge. We produced the serpin-12 core domain (serpin-12DeltaN) in insect cells and in Escherichia coli and demonstrated its inhibition of human cathepsin G, bovine alpha-chymotrypsin, and porcine pancreatic elastase. MALDI-TOF analysis of the reaction mixtures confirmed the predicted P1 residue of Leu429. Supplementation of larval plasma samples with the serpin-12DeltaN decreased prophenoloxidase activation elicited by microbial cells and reduced the proteolytic activation of the protease precursors of HP6, HP8, PAPs, and other serine protease-related proteins. After incubation of plasma stimulated with peptidoglycan, a 72 kDa protein appeared, which was recognized by polyclonal antibodies against both serpin-12 and HP14, suggesting that a covalent serpin-protease complex formed when serpin-12 inhibited HP14. Together, these data suggest that [START]M. sexta[END] serpin-12 inhibits HP14 to regulate melanization and antimicrobial peptide induction.
",29800677
0,7130,"The effect of ambient humidity on the foraging behavior of the hawkmoth [START]Manduca sexta[END].
The foraging decisions of flower-visiting animals are contingent upon the need of an individual to meet both energetic and osmotic demands. Insects can alter their food preferences to prioritize one need over the other, depending on environmental conditions. In this study, preferences in nectar sugar concentrations (0, 12, 24 %) were tested in the hawkmoth [START]Manduca sexta[END], in response to different levels of ambient humidity (20, 40, 60, and 80 % RH). Moths altered their foraging behavior when placed in low humidity environments by increasing the volume of nectar imbibed and by consuming more dilute nectar. When placed in high humidity environments the total volume imbibed decreased, because moths consumed less from dilute nectars (water and 12 % sucrose). Survivorship was higher with higher humidity. Daily foraging patterns changed with relative humidity (RH): moths maximized their nectar consumption earlier, at lower humidities. Although ambient humidity had an impact on foraging activity, activity levels and nectar preferences, total energy intake was not affected. These results show that foraging decisions made by [START]M. sexta[END] kept under different ambient RH levels allow individuals to meet their osmotic demands while maintaining a constant energy input.
",23756587
0,7130,"Subunit composition of pro-phenol oxidase from [START]Manduca sexta[END]: molecular cloning of subunit ProPO-P1.
Phenol oxidase (PO) is known to play an important role in defense mechanisms in insect immunity. It is present as a zymogen in insect hemolymph, and can be activated by a specific proteolytic reaction that is stimulated by microbial cell wall components. The pro-phenol oxidase (pro-PO) purified from the larval hemolymph of [START]Manduca sexta[END] contains two polypeptides in equal amounts as revealed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). A cDNA for one of the polypeptides, now designated proPO-p2, has been isolated (Hall et al. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 92, 7764-7768). We purified pro-PO from plasma of [START]M. sexta[END] and characterized its subunit composition. A cDNA for [START]M. sexta[END] proPO-p1 was isolated from a larval hemocyte cDNA library. [START]M. sexta[END] proPO-p1 is 78% identical in amino acid sequence to Bombyx mori proPO-p1, but only 50% to [START]M. sexta[END] or B. mori proPO-p2. Immunofluorescence labelling and in situ hybridization showed that the pro-PO is synthesized in a single hemocyte type, the oenocytoids. Analysis of pro-PO by size exclusion high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed that pro-PO exists as monomeric, dimeric, trimeric or multimeric structures depending on the ionic strength. All of these isoforms of the protein have phenol oxidase activity upon activation with a detergent, cetylpyridinium chloride. In analysis by non-denaturing PAGE, the majority of the purified pro-PO was present as two dimers of distinct mobility (fast and slow forms). Both forms contain proPO-p1 and proPO-p2, suggesting that they are heterodimers. Individual larvae can contain the slow form, the fast form, or both, which suggests that the slow and fast forms of proPO are allelic variants. These results indicate that there are two pro-PO genes in [START]M. sexta[END], which are coordinately expressed in oenocytoids, and whose products form predominantly heterodimers in plasma.
",9474780
0,7130,"Gut bacteria are not required for the insecticidal activity of Bacillus thuringiensis toward the [START]tobacco hornworm[END], [START]Manduca sexta[END].
It was recently proposed that gut bacteria are required for the insecticidal activity of the Bacillus thuringiensis-based insecticide, DiPel, toward the lepidopterans [START]Manduca sexta[END], Pieris rapae, Vanessa cardui, and Lymantria dispar. Using a similar methodology, it was found that gut bacteria were not required for the toxicity of DiPel or Cry1Ac or for the synergism of an otherwise sublethal concentration of Cry1Ac toward [START]M. sexta[END]. The toxicities of DiPel and of B. thuringiensis HD73 Cry(-) spore/Cry1Ac synergism were attenuated by continuously exposing larvae to antibiotics before bioassays. Attenuation could be eliminated by exposing larvae to antibiotics only during the first instar without altering larval sterility. Prior antibiotic exposure did not attenuate Cry1Ac toxicity. The presence of enterococci in larval guts slowed mortality resulting from DiPel exposure and halved Cry1Ac toxicity but had little effect on B. thuringiensis HD73 Cry(-) spore/Cry1Ac synergism. B. thuringiensis Cry(-) cells killed larvae after intrahemocoelic inoculation of [START]M. sexta[END], Galleria mellonella, and Spodoptera litura and grew rapidly in plasma from [START]M. sexta[END], S. litura, and Tenebrio molitor. These findings suggest that gut bacteria are not required for B. thuringiensis insecticidal activity toward [START]M. sexta[END] but that B. thuringiensis lethality is reduced in larvae that are continuously exposed to antibiotics before bioassay.
",19525273
0,7130,"[START]Manduca sexta[END] serpin-7, a putative regulator of hemolymph prophenoloxidase activation.
Serpins regulate various physiological reactions in humans and insects, including certain immune responses, primarily through inhibition of serine proteases. Six serpins have previously been identified and characterized in the [START]tobacco hornworm[END] [START]Manduca sexta[END]. In this study, we obtained a full-length cDNA sequence of another [START]Manduca[END] serpin, named serpin-7. The open reading frame of serpin-7 encodes a polypeptide of 400 amino acid residues with a predicted signal peptide of the first 15 residues. Multiple protein sequence alignment of the reactive center loop region of the [START]M. sexta[END] serpins indicated that serpin-7 contains Arg-Ile at the position of the predicted scissile bond cleaved by protease in the serpin inhibition mechanism. The same residues occur in the scissile bond of the reactive center loop in [START]M. sexta[END] serpin-4 and serpin-5, which are protease inhibitors that can block prophenoloxidase activation in plasma. Serpin-7 transcript was detected in hemocytes and fat body, and its expression increased in fat body after injection of larvae with Micrococcus luteus. Recombinant serpin-7 added to larval plasma inhibited spontaneous melanization and decreased prophenoloxidase activation stimulated by bacteria. Serpin-7 inhibited prophenoloxidase-activating protease-3 (PAP3), forming a stable serpin-protease complex. Considering that serpin-3 and serpin-6 are also efficient inhibitors of PAP3, it appears that multiple serpins present in plasma may have redundant or overlapping functions. We conclude that serpin-7 has serine protease inhibitory activity and is likely involved in regulation of proPO activation or other protease-mediated aspects of innate immunity in [START]M. sexta[END].
",23567587
0,7130,"Trophic transfer of PFAS from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) to [START]tobacco hornworm[END] ([START]Manduca sexta[END]) caterpillars.
PFASs are highly persistent in the environment and the potential exists for terrestrial biota to accumulate PFAS, which may result in exposure of higher trophic level organisms to these compounds through consumption. However, trophic transfer of proteinophilic compounds such as PFAS has not been extensively studied and the degree to which plant-accumulated PFAS will be transferred to herbivorous consumers is unclear. Here, we exposed Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) plants to a suite of 7 different PFAS, including 4 carboxylic acids (PFOA, PFHxA, PFHpA and PFDA) and 3 sulfonates (PFBS, PFHxS and PFOS). Exposed leaf tissues were subsequently fed to [START]Manduca sexta[END] ([START]tobacco hornworm[END]) caterpillars. Biomagnification factors (BMFs) were all below 1 and patterns of uptake and elimination were similar between the different PFAS. However, PFOS bioaccumulated in the hornworms to a much higher concentration, with approximately 5-fold higher BMFs and assimilation efficiencies (AEs) than other PFAS tested. AE and BMF, as well as PFAS uptake by the plants, were positively correlated with PFAS carbon chain length for both sulfonates and carboxylic acids, providing evidence that longer chain PFAS may be more efficiently accumulated (or less efficiently eliminated) than shorter-chain PFAS in some contexts.
",35926738
0,7130,"Elastic proteins in the flight muscle of [START]Manduca sexta[END].
The flight muscles (DLM1) of the Hawkmoth, [START]Manduca sexta[END] are synchronous, requiring a neural spike for each contraction. Stress/strain curves of skinned DLM1 showed hysteresis indicating the presence of titin-like elastic proteins. Projectin and kettin are titin-like proteins previously identified in Lethocerus and Drosophila flight muscles. Analysis of [START]Manduca[END] muscles with 1% SDS-agarose gels and western blots showed two bands near 1 MDa that cross-reacted with antibodies to Drosophila projectin. Antibodies to Drosophila kettin cross-reacted to bands at ~500 and ~700 kDa, but also to bands at ~1.6 and ~2.1 MDa, that had not been previously observed in insect flight muscles. Mass spectrometry identified the 2.1 MDa protein as a product of the Sallimus (sls) gene. Analysis of the gene sequence showed that all 4 putative Sallimus and kettin isoforms could be explained as products of alternative splicing of the single sls gene. Both projectin and sallimus isoforms were expressed to higher levels in ventrally located DLM1 subunits, primarily responsible for active work production, as compared to dorsally located subunits, which may act as damped springs. The different expression levels of the 2 projectin isoforms and 4 sallimus/kettin isoforms may be adaptations to the specific requirements of individual muscle subunits.
",25602701
0,7130,"Odor tracking flight of male [START]Manduca sexta[END] moths along plumes of different cross-sectional area.
Males of the hawkmoth, [START]Manduca sexta[END], track wind-borne plumes of female sex pheromone by flying upwind, while continuously turning from side-to-side and changing altitude. Their characteristic ""zigzagging"" trajectory has long been thought to result from the interaction of two mechanisms, an odor-modulated orientation to wind and a built-in central nervous system turning program. An interesting and as of yet unanswered question about this tracking behavior is how the cross-section of an odor plume or its clean-air ""edges"" affects moths' odor tracking behavior. This study attempts to address this question by video recording and analyzing the behavior of freely flying [START]M. sexta[END] males tracking plumes from pheromone sources of different lengths and orientations with equal odor concentration per unit area. Our results showed that moths generated significantly wider tracks in wide plumes from the longest horizontally-oriented sources as compared to narrower point-source plumes, but had relatively unaltered tracks when orienting to plumes from the same length sources oriented vertically. This suggests that in addition to wind and the presence of pheromones, the area of the plume's cross section or its edges may also play an important role in the plume tracking mechanisms of [START]M. sexta[END]. 
",24081678
0,7130,"Competing beetles attract egg laying in a hawkmoth.
In nature, plant-insect interactions occur in complex settings involving multiple trophic levels, often with multiple species at each level.1 Herbivore attack of a host plant typically dramatically alters the plant's odor emission in terms of concentration and composition.2,3 Therefore, a well-adapted herbivore should be able to predict whether a plant is still suitable as a host by judging these changes in the emitted bouquet. Although studies have demonstrated that oviposition preferences of successive insects were affected by previous infestations,4,5 the underlying molecular and olfactory mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we report that [START]tobacco hawkmoths[END] ([START]Manduca sexta[END]) preferentially oviposit on Jimson weed (Datura wrightii) that is already infested by a specialist, the three-lined potato beetle (Lema daturaphila). Interestingly, the moths' offspring do not benefit directly, as larvae develop more slowly when feeding together with Lema beetles. However, one of [START]M. sexta[END]'s main enemies, the parasitoid wasp Cotesia congregata, prefers the headspace of [START]M. sexta[END]-infested plants to that of plants infested by both herbivores. Hence, we conclude that female [START]M. sexta[END] ignore the interspecific competition with beetles and oviposit deliberately on beetle-infested plants to provide their offspring with an enemy-reduced space, thus providing a trade-off that generates a net benefit to the survival and fitness of the subsequent generation. We identify that alpha-copaene, emitted by beetle-infested Datura, plays a role in this preference. By performing heterologous expression and single-sensillum recordings, we show that odorant receptor (Or35) is involved in alpha-copaene detection.
",35016007
0,7130,"[START]Tobacco Hornworm[END] ([START]Manduca sexta[END]) Oral Secretion Elicits Reactive Oxygen Species in Isolated Tomato Protoplasts.
Plants are under constant attack by a suite of insect herbivores. Over millions of years of coexistence, plants have evolved the ability to sense insect feeding via herbivore-associated elicitors in oral secretions, which can mobilize defense responses. However, herbivore-associated elicitors and the intrinsic downstream modulator of such interactions remain less understood. In this study, we show that [START]tobacco hornworm[END] caterpillar ([START]Manduca sexta[END]) oral secretion (OS) induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) protoplasts. By using a dye-based ROS imaging approach, our study shows that application of plant-fed (PF) [START]M. sexta[END] OS generates significantly higher ROS while artificial diet-fed (DF) caterpillar OS failed to induce ROS in isolated tomato protoplasts. Elevation in ROS generation was saturated after ~140 s of PF OS application. ROS production was also suppressed in the presence of an antioxidant NAC (N-acetyl-L-cysteine). Interestingly, PF OS-induced ROS increase was abolished in the presence of a Ca2+ chelator, BAPTA-AM (1,2-bis(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid). These results indicate a potential signaling cascade involving herbivore-associated elicitors, Ca2+, and ROS in plants during insect feeding. In summary, our results demonstrate that plants incorporate a variety of independent signals connected with their herbivores to regulate and mount their defense responses.
",33167454
0,7130,"A Toll-Spatzle pathway in the [START]tobacco hornworm[END], [START]Manduca sexta[END].
Insects synthesize a battery of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and expression of AMP genes is regulated by the Toll and Imd (immune deficiency) pathways in Drosophila melanogaster. Drosophila Toll pathway is activated after Spatzle (Spz) is cleaved by Spatzle processing enzyme (SPE) to release the active C-terminal C106 domain (DmSpz-C106), which then binds to the Toll receptor to initiate the signaling pathway and regulate expression of AMP genes such as drosomycin. Toll and Spz genes have been identified in other insects, but interaction between Toll and Spz and direct evidence for a Toll-Spz pathway in other insect species have not been demonstrated. Our aim is to investigate a Toll-Spz pathway in [START]Manduca sexta[END], and compare [START]M. sexta[END] and D. melanogaster Toll-Spz pathways. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assays showed that MsToll(ecto) (the ecto-domain of [START]M. sexta[END] Toll) could interact with MsSpz-C108 (the active C-terminal C108 domain of [START]M. sexta[END] Spz) but not with full-length MsSpz, and DmToll(ecto) could interact with DmSpz-C106 but not DmSpz, suggesting that Toll receptor only binds to the active C-terminal domain of Spz. Co-expression of MsToll-MsSpz-C108, but not MsToll-MsSpz, could up-regulate expression of drosomycin gene in Drosophila S2 cells, indicating that MsToll-MsSpz-C108 complex can activate the Toll signaling pathway. In vivo assays showed that activation of AMP genes, including cecropin, attacin, moricin and lebocin, in [START]M. sexta[END] larvae by purified recombinant MsSpz-C108 could be blocked by pre-injection of antibody to MsToll, further confirming a Toll-Spz pathway in [START]M. sexta[END], a lepidopteran insect.
",22516181
0,7130,"A procession of metabolic alterations accompanying muscle senescence in [START]Manduca sexta[END].
Biological aging profoundly impairs muscle function, performance, and metabolism. Because the progression of metabolic alterations associated with aging muscle has not been chronicled, we tracked the metabolic profiles of flight muscle from middle to advanced age in [START]Manduca sexta[END] to identify key molecules during the progression of muscle aging, as well as to evaluate the utility of the [START]M. sexta[END] system for molecular dissection of muscle aging. We identified a number of differences between Diel Time, Sexes, and Muscle Ages, including changes in metabolites related to energetics, extracellular matrix turnover, and glutathione metabolism. Increased abundances of glycolytic metabolites suggest a shift toward increased glycolysis with advancing age, whereas decreased abundances in lysolipids and acylcarnitines reflect decreasing beta-oxidation. We also observed a shift towards decreased polyamine metabolism with age, which might result in an age-related decline in lipid metabolism possibly due to regulation of energy metabolism by polyamines. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the feasibility of our system and approach and provide a deeper understanding of lepidopteran aging. More importantly, the results identify the key altered metabolic pathways that collectively contribute to the muscle aging phenotype and thereby improve our understanding of muscle senescence.
",29343811
0,7130,"Stepping pattern changes in the caterpillar [START]Manduca sexta[END]: the effects of orientation and substrate.
Most animals can successfully travel across cluttered, uneven environments and cope with enormous changes in surface friction, deformability and stability. However, the mechanisms used to achieve such remarkable adaptability and robustness are not fully understood. Even more limited is the understanding of how soft, deformable animals such as [START]tobacco hornworm[END] [START]Manduca sexta[END] (caterpillars) can control their movements as they navigate surfaces that have varying stiffness and are oriented at different angles. To fill this gap, we analyzed the stepping patterns of caterpillars crawling on two different types of substrate (stiff and soft) and in three different orientations (horizontal and upward/downward vertical). Our results show that caterpillars adopt different stepping patterns (i.e. different sequences of transition between the swing and stance phases of prolegs in different body segments) based on substrate stiffness and orientation. These changes in stepping pattern occur more frequently in the upward vertical orientation. The results of this study suggest that caterpillars can detect differences in the material properties of the substrate on which they crawl and adjust their behavior to match those properties.
",32527957
0,7130,"The larval scaffold controls fascicle number but is not required for formation of the dorsolongitudinal flight muscles in [START]Manduca sexta[END].
During metamorphosis, the dorsolongitudinal flight muscles (DLMs) of both the moth [START]Manduca sexta[END] and the fly Drosophila melanogaster develop from the remnants of larval muscles called larval scaffolds. Although this developmental program has been conserved across highly disparate taxa, the role of the larval scaffold remains unclear. Ablation experiments have demonstrated that the Drosophila DLM does not require the scaffold, but the resulting de novo muscles vary highly in fiber number, and their functional characteristics were not examined. To address this question in [START]Manduca[END], we have surgically ablated the DLM precursors in [START]Manduca sexta[END] larvae and assayed the resulting DLMs in pharate adults using X-ray micro-CT and phalloidin histology. Following ablation, animals were able to form de novo DLMs with normal myofibril alignment, but these muscles had an altered shape and highly variable number of fascicles. Our results suggest that the larval scaffold is not required for DLM development in [START]Manduca sexta[END], but appears to define the number of fascicles in the adult muscle, as previously found in Drosophila. Additionally, our ablated animals were able to generate flight, further suggesting that the use of a larval scaffold is a modification on the more ancestral myogenesis program.
",35576787
0,7130,"Interaction of beta-1,3-glucan with its recognition protein activates hemolymph proteinase 14, an initiation enzyme of the prophenoloxidase activation system in [START]Manduca sexta[END].
A serine proteinase pathway in insect hemolymph leads to prophenoloxidase activation, an innate immune response against pathogen infection. In the [START]tobacco hornworm[END] [START]Manduca sexta[END], recombinant hemolymph proteinase 14 precursor (pro-HP14) interacts with peptidoglycan, autoactivates, and initiates the proteinase cascade (Ji, C., Wang, Y., Guo, X., Hartson, S., and Jiang, H. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 34101-34106). Here, we report the purification and characterization of pro-HP14 from the hemolymph of bacteria-injected [START]M. sexta[END] larvae. The zymogen, consisting of a single polypeptide with a molecular mass of 68.5 kDa, is truncated at the amino terminus. It is converted to a two-chain active form in the presence of beta-1,3-glucan (a fungal cell wall component) and beta-1,3-glucan recognition protein-2. The 45-kDa heavy chain contains four low-density lipoprotein receptor A repeats, one Sushi domain, and one unique cysteine-rich region, whereas the 30-kDa light chain contains a serine proteinase domain, which was labeled by [(3)H]diisopropyl fluorophosphate. Pro-HP14 in the plasma strongly binds curdlan, zymosan, and yeast and interacts with peptidoglycan and Micrococcus luteus. Addition of autoactivated HP14 elevated phenoloxidase activity level in the larval plasma. Recombinant [START]M. sexta[END] serpin-1I reduced prophenoloxidase activation by inhibiting HP14. These data are consistent with the current model on initiation and regulation of the prophenoloxidase activation cascade upon recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns by specific pattern recognition proteins.
",16461344
0,7130,"Illness-induced anorexia and its possible function in the caterpillar, [START]Manduca sexta[END].
Although many animals exhibit illness-induced anorexia when immune-challenged, the adaptive significance of this behavior remains unclear. Injecting [START]Manduca sexta[END] larvae (caterpillars) with live bacteria (Serratia marcescens), heat-killed bacteria or bacterial lipopolysaccharides resulted in a decline in feeding, demonstrating illness-induced anorexia in this species. We used [START]M. sexta[END] to test four commonly suggested adaptive functions for illness-induced anorexia. (1) Food deprivation did not reduce the iron content of the hemolymph. (2) Immune-challenged [START]M. sexta[END] were not more likely to move to a different part of the plant. Therefore, the decline in feeding is unlikely to be an adaptive response allowing the animal to move away from a patch of contaminated food. (3) [START]M. sexta[END] force-fed S. marcescens bacteria were not more susceptible to a S. marcescens systemic infection than were [START]M. sexta[END] force-fed nutrient broth. (4) Force-feeding infected [START]M. sexta[END] during illness-induced anorexia did not increase mortality and short-term food deprivation did not enhance survival. However, force-feeding [START]M. sexta[END] with a high lipid diet (linseed oil and water) resulted in an increase in mortality when challenged with S. marcescens. Force-feeding sucrose or water did not reduce resistance. Force-feeding a high lipid diet into healthy animals did not reduce weight gain, suggesting that it was not toxic. We hypothesize that there is a conflict between lipid metabolism and immune function, although whether this conflict has played a role in the evolution of illness-induced anorexia remains unknown. The adaptive function of illness-induced anorexia requires further study in both vertebrates and invertebrates.
",17126528
0,7130,"The larval haematopoietic organs of [START]Manduca sexta[END] (Insecta, Lepidoptera): An insight into plasmatocyte development and larval haematopoiesis.
Haematopoietic organs (HOs) in Lepidoptera are widely recognised as the source for at least two haemocyte types. With new specific markers for oenocytoids and spherule cells and a method to identify prohaemocytes, the haemocytes formed in and released by the HOs of [START]Manduca sexta[END] are characterised. Differentiation of HO-cells to haemocytes other than plasmatocytes and prohaemocytes neither occurs in the organ itself nor in cells released in vitro by the HOs. Differential labelling patterns evidence the existence of plasmatocyte subpopulations and prohaemocytes, which might represent a gradual differentiation of haemocytes within the organs. Prohaemocytes can be identified by PNA-labelling of the cell membrane. These prohaemocytes are found in circulation and in the HOs and are released by the organs. Circulating prohaemocytes possess characteristics for granular cells, plasmatocytes or oenocytoids while HO derived prohaemocytes share characteristics only with plasmatocytes. Ablation of the HOs diminishes the plasmatocyte and prohaemocyte number, indicating a true larval haematopoietic function.
",32898576
0,7130,"Proteomic analysis of pharate pupal molting fluid from the [START]tobacco hornworm[END], [START]Manduca sexta[END].
The insect cuticle is a key component of their success, being important for protection, communication, locomotion, and support. Conversely, as an exoskeleton, it also limits the size of the insect and must be periodically molted and a new one synthesized, to permit growth. To achieve this, the insect secretes a solution of chitinases, proteases and other proteins, known collectively as molting fluid, during each molting process to break down and recycle components of the old cuticle. Previous research has focused on the degradative enzymes in molting fluid and offered some characterization of their biochemical properties. However, identification of the specific proteins involved remained to be determined. We have used 2D SDS-PAGE and LC/MS-based proteomic analysis to identify proteins in the molting fluid of the [START]tobacco hornworm[END], [START]Manduca sexta[END], undergoing the larval to pupal molt. We categorized these proteins based on their proposed functions including chitin metabolism, proteases, peptidases, and immunity. This analysis complements previous reported work on [START]M. sexta[END] molting fluid and identifies candidate genes for enzymes involved in cuticle remodeling. Proteins classified as having an immune function highlight potential for molting fluid to act as an immune barrier to prevent infections during the cuticle degradation and ecdysis processes. Several proteins known to function in melanin synthesis as an immune response in hemolymph were present in molting fluid. We demonstrated that the bacterium Micrococcus luteus and the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana can stimulate activation of phenoloxidase in molting fluid, indicating that the recognition proteins, protease cascade, and prophenoloxidase needed for melanin synthesis are present as a defense against infection during cuticle degradation. This analysis offers insights for proteins that may be important not only for molting in [START]M. sexta[END] but for insects in general.
",36115517
0,7130,"Characterization and regulation of expression of an antifungal peptide from hemolymph of an insect, [START]Manduca sexta[END].
Insects secrete antimicrobial peptides as part of the innate immune response. Most antimicrobial peptides from insects have antibacterial but not antifungal activity. We have characterized an antifungal peptide, diapausin-1 from hemolymph of a lepidopteran insect, [START]Manduca sexta[END] ([START]tobacco hornworm[END]). Diapausin-1 was isolated by size exclusion chromatography from hemolymph plasma of larvae that were previously injected with a yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Fractions containing activity against S. cerevisiae were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF MS/MS and found to contain a 45-residue peptide that was encoded by sequences identified in [START]M. sexta[END] transcriptome and genome databases. A cDNA for diapausin-1 was cloned from cDNA prepared from fat body RNA. Diapausin-1 is a member of the diapausin family of peptides, which includes members known to have antifungal activity. The [START]M. sexta[END] genome contains 14 genes with high similarity to diapausin-1, each with 6 conserved Cys residues. Diapausin-1 was produced as a recombinant protein in Escherichia coli. Purified recombinant diapausin-1 was active against S. cerevisiae, with IC50 of 12 muM, but had no detectable activity against bacteria. Spores of some plant fungal pathogens treated with diapausin-1 had curled germination tubes or reduced and branched hyphal growth. Diapausin-1 mRNA level in fat body strongly increased after larvae were injected with yeast or with Micrococcus luteus. In addition, diapausin-1 mRNA levels increased in midgut and fat body at the wandering larval stage prior to pupation, suggesting developmental regulation of the gene. Our results indicate that synthesis of diapausin-1 is part of an antifungal innate immune response to infection in [START]M. sexta[END].
",26976231
0,7130,"The putative AKH receptor of the [START]tobacco hornworm[END], [START]Manduca sexta[END], and its expression.
Adipokinetic hormones are peptide hormones that mobilize lipids and/or carbohydrates for flight in adult insects and activate glycogen Phosphorylase in larvae during starvation and during molt. We previously examined the functional roles of adipokinetic hormone in [START]Manduca sexta[END] L. (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). Here we report the cloning of the full-length cDNA encoding the putative adipokinetic hormone receptor from the fat body of [START]M. sexta[END]. The sequence analysis shows that the deduced amino acid sequence shares common motifs of G protein-coupled receptors, by having seven hydrophobic transmembrane segments. We examined the mRNA expression pattern of the adipokinetic hormone receptor by quantitative Real-Time PCR in fat body during development and in different tissues and found the strongest expression in fat body of larvae two days after molt to the fifth instar. We discuss these results in relation to some of our earlier results. We also compare the [START]M. sexta[END] adipokinetic hormone receptor with the known adipokinetic hormone receptors of other insects and with gonadotropin releasing hormone-like receptors of invertebrates.
",21529255
0,7130,"[START]Manduca sexta[END] serpin-3 regulates prophenoloxidase activation in response to infection by inhibiting prophenoloxidase-activating proteinases.
Many serine proteinase inhibitors of the serpin superfamily have evolved in vertebrates and invertebrates to regulate serine proteinase cascades that mediate the host defense responses. We have isolated an immune-responsive serpin from the [START]tobacco hornworm[END], [START]Manduca sexta[END]. This inhibitor, [START]M. sexta[END] serpin-3, contains a reactive site loop strikingly similar to the proteolytic activation site in prophenoloxidase (pro-PO). Molecular cloning and sequence comparison indicate that serpin-3 is orthologous to Drosophila melanogaster serpin 27A, a regulator of melanization. [START]M. sexta[END] serpin-3 is constitutively present in hemolymph at a low concentration of 5-12 microg/ml and increases to 30-75 microg/ml after a microbial challenge. Recombinant serpin-3 efficiently blocks pro-PO activation in the hemolymph, and it forms SDS-stable acyl-enzyme complexes with purified pro-PO-activating proteinases (PAPs) from [START]M. sexta[END]. PAP-serpin-3 complexes were isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography from hemolymph activated by treatment with Micrococcus luteus. Kinetic analysis of PAP-serpin-3 association strongly suggests that serpin-3 is a physiological regulator of the pro-PO activation reaction.
",12966082
0,7130,"Isolation and functional characterization of an allatotropin receptor from [START]Manduca sexta[END].
[START]Manduca sexta[END] allatotropin (Manse-AT) is a multifunctional neuropeptide whose actions include the stimulation of juvenile hormone biosynthesis, myotropic stimulation, cardioacceleratory functions, and inhibition of active ion transport. Manse-AT is a member of a structurally related peptide family that is widely found in insects and also in other invertebrates. Its precise role depends on the insect species and developmental stage. In some lepidopteran insects including [START]M. sexta[END], structurally-related AT-like (ATL) peptides can be derived from alternatively spliced mRNAs transcribed from the AT gene. We have isolated a cDNA for an AT receptor (ATR) from [START]M. sexta[END] by a PCR-based approach using the sequence of the ATR from Bombyx mori. The sequence of the [START]M. sexta[END] ATR is similar to several G protein-coupled receptors from other insect species and to the mammalian orexin receptor. We demonstrate that the [START]M. sexta[END] ATR expressed in vertebrate cell lines is activated in a dose-responsive manner by Manse-AT and each Manse-ATL peptide in the rank order ATL-I > ATL-II > ATL-III > AT, and functional analysis in multiple cell lines suggest that the receptor is coupled through elevated levels of Ca(2+) and cAMP. In feeding larvae, Manse-ATR mRNA is present at highest levels in the Malpighian tubules, followed by the midgut, hindgut, testes, and corpora allata, consistent with its action on multiple target tissues. In the adult corpora cardiaca--corpora allata complex, Manse-ATR mRNA is present at relatively low levels in both sexes.
",21699978
0,13686,"Solenopsis invicta virus 3 infection alters foraging behavior in its host [START]Solenopsisinvicta[END].
[START]Solenopsis invicta[END] is an invasive ant introduced into the United States in the early 1900s. Control efforts and damage caused by this ant exceed $8 billion annually. Solenopsis invicta virus 3 (SINV-3) is a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus (Solinviviridae) that is being used as a classical natural control agent for [START]S. invicta[END]. [START]S. invicta[END] colonies were exposed to purified preparations of SINV-3 to investigate the impact of the virus on the ant. Food retrieval behavior (i.e., foraging) by worker ants was significantly decreased, which led to mortality among all life stages. Queen fecundity and weight were also significantly decreased. The change in food retrieval was associated with the exhibition of an unusual behavior, whereby the remaining live ant workers wedged dead ant worker corpses into and on top of cricket carcasses (the laboratory colony food source). SINV-3 infection alters foraging behavior in [START]S. invicta[END], which adversely impacts colony nutrition.
",36933306
0,13686,"Reduction of venom alkaloids in Solenopsis richterixSolenopsis invicta hybrid: an attempt to identify new alkaloidal components.
The alkaloid chemistry of the venom of hybrid fire ant, Solenopsis richteri x Solenopsis invicta, was investigated using silica gel chromatography and GC-MS techniques. In addition to most cis alkaloids of parental species, S. richteri Forel and [START]S. invicta[END] Buren, the cis alkaloid fraction of the body extract of hybrid fire ants also contains five significant new alkaloids. Hydrogenation of the cis alkaloid fraction yielded only five piperidines, 4', 12', 12, 20', and 20. Sodium borohydride and lithium aluminum hydride selectively reduced C N double bond in piperideine alkaloids to give a mixture of cis and trans piperidines. However, reduction of the five new components yielded several new peaks with much longer retention times and increasing molecular weights over 30. It is evident that the chemical identities of the five new peaks are quite different from those known piperidines or piperideines found in Solenopsis fire ants.
",20964344
0,13686,"Field evaluation of Solenopsis invicta virus 3 against its host [START]Solenopsis invicta[END].
Viruses have been used successfully as biocontrol agents against several insect pests but not ants. Laboratory tests have shown that Solenopsis invicta virus 3 (SINV-3) may be an effective natural control agent against its host, the [START]red imported fire ant[END] ([START]Solenopsis invicta[END] Buren). In this field trial, SINV-3 was released into 12 active [START]S. invicta[END] nests within a 0.088-hectare area in Florida and the impact on the ants monitored. SINV-3 was successfully transmitted, established, and multiplied within treated colonies reaching a maximum mean value of 8.71 x 108 +- 8.26 x 108 SINV-3 genome equivalents/worker ant 77 days after inoculation. SINV-3 was not detected in any of the nests in the control group. A 7-fold decrease in nests was observed in the SINV-3-treated group compared with the untreated control. A correspondingly significant decrease in [START]S. invicta[END] nest size also was observed over the course of the evaluation. Based on the nest rating scale, nest size among those treated with SINV-3 decreased from 3.92 +- 1.24 on day 0 to 1.67 +- 2.06 on day 77, which represents a 57.4% decrease in size. Conversely, the nest rating for the control group increased 9.3%, from 4.42 +- 1.24 on day 0 to 4.83 +- 2.12 on day 77. A follow-up survey of SINV-3-treated and -untreated plots conducted 9 months after initial treatment revealed that fire ant populations rebounded, but at a different rate. A total of 11 and 19 nests were detected in the SINV-3-treated and -untreated areas, respectively. SINV-3 was still detected in the treated area 1.8 years after the initial virus treatment and the virus had spread into the adjacent control plot. Results demonstrate that SINV-3 is an effective natural control agent against the invasive ant, [START]S. invicta[END]; the virus causes no known detrimental ecological impacts, is host specific, and sustained in the environment.
",35500673
0,13686,"Characterization of Solenopsis invicta virus 4, a polycipivirus infecting the [START]red imported fire ant[END] [START]Solenopsis invicta[END].
Solenopsis invicta virus 4 (SINV-4), a new polycipivirus, was characterized in the host in which it was discovered, [START]Solenopsis invicta[END]. SINV-4 was detected in the worker and larval stages of [START]S. invicta[END], but not in pupae, male or female alates, or queens. The SINV-4 titer was highest in worker ants, with a mean of 1.14 x 107 +- 5.84 x107 SINV-4 genome equivalents/ng RNA. Electron microscopic examination of negatively stained samples from particles purified from SINV-4-infected fire ant workers revealed isometric particles with a mean diameter of 47.3 +- 1.4 nm. The mean inter-colony SINV-4 infection rate among [START]S. invicta[END] worker ants was 45.8 +- 38.6 in Alachua County, Florida. In [START]S. invicta[END] collected in Argentina, SINV-4 was detected in 22% of 54 colonies surveyed from across the Formosa region. There did not appear to be any seasonality associated with the SINV-4 infection rate among [START]S. invicta[END] nests. SINV-4 was successfully transmitted to uninfected [START]S. invicta[END] colonies by feeding. Among three colonies of [START]S. invicta[END] inoculated with SINV-4, two retained the infection for up to 72 days. The replicative genome strand of SINV-4 was detected in 18% (n = 11) of SINV-4-infected [START]S. invicta[END] colonies. Among 33 ant species examined, the plus genome strand of SINV-4 was detected in undetermined species of Dorymyrmex and Pheidole, Cyphomyrmex rimosus, Monomorium pharaonis, Pheidole obscurithorax, Solenopsis geminata, Solenopsis richteri, Solenopsis xyloni, and [START]Solenopsis invicta[END]. However, the replicative (minus) genome strand was only detected in [START]S. invicta[END]. SINV-4 infection did not impact brood production or queen fecundity in [START]S. invicta[END]. The mean brood rating (63.3% +- 8.8) after 31 days for SINV-4-infected colonies was not statistically different from that of uninfected colonies (48.3 +- 25.5). At the end of the 31-day test period, mean egg production was not significantly different between SINV-4-infected [START]S. invicta[END] colonies (287.7 +- 45.2 eggs laid/24 hours) and uninfected control colonies (193.0 +- 43.6 eggs laid/24 hours).
",36098800
0,13686,"Molecular diversity of the microsporidium Kneallhazia solenopsae reveals an expanded host range among fire ants in North America.
Kneallhazia solenopsae is a pathogenic microsporidium that infects the fire ants [START]Solenopsis invicta[END] and Solenopsis richteri in South America and the USA. In this study, we analyzed the prevalence and molecular diversity of K. solenopsae in fire ants from North and South America. We report the first empirical evidence of K. solenopsae infections in the tropical fire ant, Solenopsis geminata, and S. geminataxSolenopsis xyloni hybrids, revealing an expanded host range for this microsporidium. We also analyzed the molecular diversity at the 16S ribosomal RNA gene in K. solenopsae from the ant hosts [START]S.invicta[END], S. richteri, S. geminata and S. geminataxS. xyloni hybrids from North America, Argentina and Brazil. We found 22 16S haplotypes. One of these haplotypes (WD_1) appears to be widely distributed, and is found in [START]S. invicta[END] from the USA and S. geminata from southern Mexico. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S sequences revealed that K. solenopsae haplotypes fall into one of two major clades that are differentiated by 2-3%. In some cases, multiple K. solenopsae haplotypes per colony were found, suggesting either an incomplete homogenization among gene copies within the 16S gene cluster or multiple K. solenopsae variants simultaneously infecting host colonies.
",20691187
0,13686,"Integrated pest management concepts for [START]red imported fire ants[END] [START]Solenopsis invicta[END] (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).
Management of imported fire ant species has evolved since their accidental introduction into the United States and currently uses integrated pest management concepts to design, implement, and evaluate suppression programs. Although eradication is the management goal in certain isolated infestation sites, localized goals vary dramatically in larger infestations where reinvasion of treated areas is likely. These goals are influenced by regulatory policies, medical liabilities, ecological impact, and/or economic considerations. Tactics employed in fire ant management programs presented here include cultural and biological control options along with judicious use of site-specific insecticide products. In addition, program design considerations that include management goal(s), action level(s), ant form (monogyne or polygyne), presence of nontarget ant species, size of treatment area, seasonality, implementation cost, and environmental impact are also presented. Optimally, elegant IPM programs are target specific, threshold driven, environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
",23955939
0,13686,"Unique venom proteins from Solenopsis invicta x Solenopsis richteri hybrid fire ants.
The Solenopsis venom protein 2 transcript was amplified, sequenced, probed, and analyzed from Solenopsis invicta x Solenopsis richteri hybrid ant colonies (hybrids) collected from across Tennessee to determine the extent of introgression of each parent allele ([START]Solenopsis invicta[END] venom protein 2 [Soli2] and Solenopsis richteri venom protein 2 [Solr2]). Chemotaxonomic analyses of venom alkaloids and cuticular hydrocarbons were used to categorize hybrid colonies and their relative relatedness to each parent species. Hybrid colonies were chosen randomly from each chemotaxonomic hybridization category, including ""very near S. richteri,"" ""near S. richteri,"" ""near [START]S. invicta[END],"" and ""very near [START]S. invicta[END]."" Lateral flow immunoassays for detection of the Soli2 and Solr2 venom proteins were largely in agreement with the chemotaxonomic analyses for the very near S. richteri (100% Solr2) and very near [START]S. invicta[END] (80% Soli2, 20% Soli2 + Solr2 detected in the sample) groups, while Soli2 and Solr2 were reported in 60% and 40% in the near [START]S. invicta[END] and near S. richteri chemotaxonomic groups. Analysis of transcripts from the hybrid colonies revealed a sequence with 100% identity to Soli2 (GenBank Accession L09560) and three unique sequences, which we identify as Solenopsis hybrid venom protein 2 (Solh2; GenBank Accession MT150127), Solenopsis hybrid truncated venom protein 2 (Solh2Tr97; Genbank Accession MT150129), and Solenopsis richteri venom protein 2, D to A change at position 69 (Solr2A69; GenBank Accession MT150128). The predicted open reading frame for Solh2 and Solh2Tr97 revealed sequences unique to hybrid ants, with Solh2Tr97an alternatively spliced form. A third unique sequence, Solr2A69, is likely the correct sequence for Solr2, which appears to have been published previously with a sequencing error (GenBank Accession P35776).
",34027387
0,13686,"Differential Behavioral Responses of [START]Solenopsis invicta[END] (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Workers Toward Nestmate and Non-Nestmate Corpses.
The removal of corpses (aka 'necrophoric behavior') is critical to sanitation in ant colonies. However, little is known about differences in the necrophoric responses of [START]Solenopsis invicta[END] workers towards corpses of nestmates and non-nestmates. We introduced corpses of [START]S. invicta[END] workers from either intracolony (i.e., nestmate) or intercolony (i.e., non-nestmate) origin at the entrance of artificial nests, and recorded workers' aggressive responses and necrophoric behaviors for analysis. [START]Solenopsis invicta[END] workers displayed distinct responses towards corpses of different origins. Specifically, resident workers were more likely to remove fresh non-nestmate corpses than nestmate corpses, but there was no difference regarding corpses that had been dead for 15 min or longer. Resident workers reacted more aggressively to, and removed more quickly, fresh non-nestmate corpses than corpses of their nestmates. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the removal time between nestmate and non-nestmate corpses that had been dead for 15 min or longer. Resident workers always displayed stronger aggressiveness towards non-nestmate corpses than nestmate corpses, excepting to corpses that had been dead for 6 h, which elicited a response. No significant correlation between the removal times and aggressiveness levels were detected in any treatments. It remains to be tested whether this differential response is adaptive in how it influences colony fitness and competition.
",32725158
0,13686,"Silencing of CYP6AS160 in [START]Solenopsis invicta[END] Buren by RNA interference enhances worker susceptibility to fipronil.
Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases play a key role in pest resistance to insecticides by detoxification. Four new P450 genes, CYP6AS160, CYP6AS161, CYP4AB73 and CYP4G232 were identified from [START]Solenopsis invicta[END]. CYP6AS160 was highly expressed in the abdomen and its expression could be induced significantly with exposure to fipronil, whereas CYP4AB73 was not highly expressed in the abdomen and its expression could not be significantly induced following exposure to fipronil. Expression levels of CYP6AS160 and CYP4AB73 in workers were significantly higher than that in queens. RNA interference-mediated gene silencing by feeding on double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) found that the levels of this transcript decreased (by maximum to 64.6%) when they fed on CYP6AS160-specific dsRNA. Workers fed dsCYP6AS160 had significantly higher mortality after 24 h of exposure to fipronil compared to controls. Workers fed dsCYP6AS160 had reduced total P450 activity of microsomal preparations toward model substrates p-nitroanisole. However, the knockdown of a non-overexpressed P450 gene, CYP4AB73 did not lead to an increase of mortality or a decrease of total P450 activity. The knockdown effects of CYP6AS160 on worker susceptibility to fipronil, combined with our other findings, indicate that CYP6AS160 is responsible for detoxification of fipronil. Feeding insects dsRNA may be a general strategy to trigger RNA interference and may find applications in entomological research and in the control of insect pests in the field.
",34365981
0,13686,"Metabolic scaling of fire ants ([START]Solenopsis invicta[END]) engaged in collective behaviors.
During flash floods, fire ants ([START]Solenopsis invicta[END] Buren) link their bodies together to build rafts to stay afloat, and towers to anchor onto floating vegetation. Can such challenging conditions facilitate synchronization and coordination, resulting in energy savings per capita? To understand how stress affects metabolic rate, we used constant-volume respirometry to measure the metabolism of fire ant workers. Group metabolic rates were measured in a series of conditions: at normal state, at three elevated temperatures, during rafting, and during tower-building. We hypothesized that the metabolic rate of ants at various temperatures would scale isometrically (proportionally with the group mass). Indeed, we found metabolic rates scaled isometrically under all temperature conditions, giving evidence that groups of ants differ from entire colonies, which scale allometrically. We then hypothesized that the metabolism of ants engaged in rafting and tower-building would scale allometrically. We found partial evidence for this hypothesis: ants rafting for short times had allometric metabolic rates, but this effect vanished after 30 min. Rafting for long times and tower-building both scaled isometrically. Tower-building consumed the same energy per capita as ants in their normal state. Rafting ants consumed almost 43% more energy than ants in their normal state, with smaller rafts consuming more energy per capita. Together, our results suggest that stressful conditions requiring coordination can influence metabolic demand. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
",35217864
0,29058,"HearNPV susceptibility in [START]Helicoverpa armigera[END] and Helicoverpa punctigera strains resistant to Bt toxins Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab, and Vip3Aa.
Genetically engineered crops expressing insecticidal toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have improved the management of targeted lepidopteran pests and reduced the use of insecticide sprays. These benefits explain an increasing adoption of Bt crops worldwide, intensifying the selection pressure on target species and the risk of resistance. Nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPVs) are effective bioinsecticides against numerous important lepidopteran pests. If Bt-resistant insects are shown to be susceptible to NPVs then these bioinsecticides could be a valuable component of Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM) strategies for Bt crops. We assessed the effectiveness of a Helicoverpa nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) against several different Bt-resistant strains. Utilising a droplet feeding bioassay we confirmed susceptibility to HearNPV in Helicoverpa punctigera and [START]Helicoverpa armigera[END] larvae resistant to the Bt toxins Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab, and Vip3A. Dual resistant H. punctigera, (Cry1Ac/Cry2Ab, and Cry2Ab/Vip3A) and dual resistant [START]H. armigera[END] (Cry2Ab/Vip3A) were also susceptible to HearNPV. Regardless of their specific resistance profile, Bt-resistant larvae displayed statistically similar lethal concentration (LC50) and lethal time (LT50) responses to HearNPV when compared to Bt-sensitive control insects. These results indicate that Bt-resistant [START]H. armigera[END] and H. punctigera are not cross-resistant to HearNPV. Consequently, the use of HearNPV against these pests may be a valuable tool to an IRM strategy for controlling Bt-resistant populations.
",33957131
0,29058,"Trehalase is required for sex pheromone biosynthesis in [START]Helicoverpa armigera[END].
Trehalase (Treh) hydrolyzes trehalose to generate glucose and it plays important roles in many physiological processes. Acetyl-CoA, the precursor of sex pheromone biosynthesis in the pheromone gland (PG) of [START]Helicoverpa armigera[END], originates from glucose during glycolysis. However, the function of Treh in sex pheromone biosynthesis remains elusive. In present study, [START]H.armigera[END] was used as a model to investigate the function of two Trehs (Treh1 and Treh2) in sex pheromone biosynthesis. Results demonstrated that knockdown of HaTreh1 or HaTreh2 in female PGs led to significant decreases in Z11-16:Ald production, female ability to attract males, and successful mating proportions. Pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) treatment triggered HaTreh1 and HaTreh2 activities in the isolated PGs and Sf9 cells. However, the activities of HaTreh1 and HaTreh2 triggered by PBAN were offset by H-89, the specific inhibitor of protein kinase A (PKA). Furthermore, H-89 treatment significantly decreased the phosphorylation level of Trhe2, which was induced by PBAN. In addition, sugar feeding (5% sugar) increased the enzyme activities of Treh1 and Treh2. In summary, our findings confirmed that PBAN activates Treh1/2 activities by recruiting cAMP/PKA signaling, promotes glycolysis to ensure the supply of acetyl-CoA, and ultimately facilitates to sex pheromone biosynthesis and mating behavior. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
",35084068
0,29058,"Knockdown of Helicoverpa armigera protease genes affects its growth and mortality via RNA interference.
[START]Helicoverpa armigera[END] (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), the [START]cotton bollworm[END], is a destructive pest which is famous for its resistance to a variety of insecticides. RNA interference is a posttranscriptional gene silencing mechanism that has become a popular tool to control insect pests, triggered by double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs). The effect of ingestion and injection delivery methods of dsRNA related to some protease genes including Trypsin (Ha-TRY39 and Ha-TRY96), Chymotrypsin (Ha-CHY), and Cathepsin L (Ha-CAT) on growth and development of [START]H. armigera[END] was investigated in this study. All protease genes encoded full ORFs and were expressed in all [START]H. armigera[END] larvae stages and tissues. In both injection and feeding bioassays, Ha-RNAi CHY's performance outperformed that of other protease genes. CHY enzyme activity in the midgut of larvae was significantly reduced after treatment with ds-HaCHY. Oral administration of ds-CHY also resulted in significant mortality of [START]H. armigera[END] larvae. However, because of the high RNase activity in the midgut lumen of lepidoptera, a large amount of dsRNA was needed to effectively kill instars of [START]H. armigera[END]. To reduce dsRNA degradation, bacterial expression and dsRNA formulation were used. After oral administration, it was toxic to [START]H. armigera[END] larvae. Before oral administration, bacterial cells were sonicated to increase dsRNA release. The RNA interference efficiency of sonicated bacteria was significantly increased, resulting in higher larval mortality when administered orally. All of these findings point to Ha-CHY as a new candidate for developing an effective dsRNA-based pesticide for [START]H. armigera[END] control.
",34569086
0,29058,"Chemosensory Proteins (CSPs) in the [START]Cotton Bollworm[END] [START]Helicoverpa armigera[END].
Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are a family of small, soluble proteins that play a crucial role in transporting odorant and pheromone molecules in the insect chemosensory system. Recent studies reveal that they also function in development, nutrient metabolism and insecticide resistance. In-depth and systematic characterization of previously unknown CSPs will be valuable to investigate more detailed functionalities of this protein family. Here, we identified 27 CSP genes from the genome and transcriptome sequences of [START]cotton bollworm[END], [START]Helicoverpa armigera[END] (Hubner). The expression patterns of these genes were studied by using transcriptomic data obtained from different tissues and stages. The results demonstrate that [START]H. armigera[END] CSP genes are not only highly expressed in chemosensory tissues, such as antennae, mouthparts, and tarsi, but also in the salivary glands, cuticle epidermis, and hind gut. HarmCSP6 and 22 were selected as candidate CSPs for expression in Escherichia coli and purification. A new method was developed that significantly increased the HarmCSP6 and 22 expression levels as soluble recombinant proteins for purification. This study advances our understanding of insect CSPs and provides a new approach to highly express recombinant CSPs in E. coli.
",35055872
0,29058,"Identification of Helicoverpa armigera promoters for biotechnological applications.
Helicoverpa armigera and Helicoverpa zea are highly polyphagous major agricultural pests with a global distribution. Their control is based on insecticides, however, new, effective, and environmentally friendly control tools are required to be developed and validated. In an effort to facilitate the development of advanced biotechnological tools in these species that will take advantage of new powerful molecular biology techniques like CRISPR/Cas9, we used available transcriptomic data and literature resources, in order to identify RNA polymerase II and III promoters active in RP-HzGUT-AW1(MG), a midgut derived cell line from Helicoverpa zea. Following functional analysis in insect cell lines, four RNA polymerase II promoters from the genes HaLabial, HaTsp-2A, HaPtx-I and HaCaudal were found to exhibit high transcriptional activity in vitro. The HaTsp-2A promoter did not exhibit any activity in the non-midgut derived cell lines Sf-9 and Hi-5 despite high sequence conservation among Lepidoptera, suggesting that it may function in a gut specific manner. Furthermore, considering the utility of RNA polymerase III U6 promoters in methodologies such as RNAi and CRISPR/Cas9, we identified and evaluated four different U6 promoters of [START]H. armigera[END]. In vitro experiments based on luciferase and GFP reporter assays, as well as in vivo experiments targeting an essential gene of [START]Helicoverpa[END], indicate that these U6 promoters are functional and can be used to experimentally silence or knockout target genes through the expression of shRNAs and sgRNAs respectively. Taking our findings together, we provide a set of promoters useful for the genetic manipulation of [START]Helicoverpa[END] species, that can be used in various applications in the context of agricultural biotechnology.
",35093501
0,29058,"Comparative Toxicity of Helicoverpa armigera and Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Selected Insecticides.
Until recently, the Old World bollworm (OWB) Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) and the corn earworm Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) were geographically isolated. Both species are major pests of agricultural commodities that are known to develop insecticide resistance, and they now coexist in areas where [START]H. armigera[END] invaded the Americas. This is the first study to compare the susceptibility of the two species to conventional insecticides. The susceptibility of third instar [START]H. armigera[END] and H. zea larvae to indoxacarb, methomyl, spinetoram, and spinosad was determined using a diet-overlay bioassay in a quarantine laboratory in Puerto Rico. Mortality was assessed at 48 h after exposure for up to eight concentrations per insecticide. Spinetoram exhibited the highest acute toxicity against [START]H. armigera[END], with a median lethal concentration (LC50) of 0.11 microg a.i./cm2, followed by indoxacarb and spinosad (0.17 microg a.i./cm2 for both) and methomyl (0.32 microg a.i./cm2). Spinetoram was also the most toxic to H. zea (LC50 of 0.08 microg a.i./cm2), followed by spinosad (0.17 microg a.i./cm2) and methomyl (0.18 microg a.i./cm2). Indoxacarb was the least toxic to H. zea, with an LC50 of 0.21 microg a.i./cm2. These findings could serve as a comparative reference for monitoring the susceptibility of [START]H. armigera[END] and H. zea to indoxacarb, methomyl, spinetoram, and spinosad in Puerto Rico, and may facilitate the detection of field-selected resistance for these two species and their potential hybrids in areas recently invaded by [START]H. armigera[END].
",32664300
0,29058,"A perspective on management of [START]Helicoverpa armigera[END]: transgenic Bt cotton, IPM, and landscapes.
[START]Helicoverpa armigera[END] is a major pest of agriculture, horticulture and floriculture throughout the Old World and recently invaded parts of the New World. We overview of the evolution in thinking about the application of area-wide approaches to assist with its control by the Australian Cotton Industry to highlight important lessons and future challenges to achieving the same in the New World. An over-reliance of broad-spectrum insecticides led to [START]Helicoverpa[END] spp. in Australian cotton rapidly became resistant to DDT, synthetic pyrethroids, organophosphates, carbamates and endosulfan. Voluntary strategies were developed to slow the development of insecticide resistance, which included rotating chemistries and basing spray decisions on thresholds. Despite adoption of these practices, insecticide resistance continued to develop until the introduction of genetically modified cotton provided a platform for augmenting Integrated Pest Management in the Australian cotton industry. Compliance with mandatory resistance management plans for Bt cotton necessitated a shift from pest control at the level of individual fields or farms towards a coordinated area-wide landscape approach. Our take-home message for control of [START]H. armigera[END] is that resistance management is essential in genetically modified crops and must be season long and area-wide to be effective.   2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
",27753247
0,29058,"[START]Helicoverpa armigera[END] Harm 1 Haplotype Predominates in the Heliothinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Complex Infesting Tomato Crops in Brazil.
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a natural host for the Helicoverpa-Chloridea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae) pest complex. The species [START]Helicoverpa armigera[END] (Hubner) was responsible for significant yield losses in several crops after its detection in Brazil. The morphology of its larval stage resembles common Heliothinae species, making pest control decisions difficult. The overall lack of studies on the Heliothinae associated with tomatoes in Brazil and the establishment of [START]H. armigera[END] in the country plus their recent outbreaks supported our investigation about the relative importance of the insects from the Helicoverpa-Chloridea complex in this vegetable crop. A nationwide survey was carried out across fresh-market and processing tomato fields. Molecular analyses targeting a segment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene and their sequence analyses indicated the presence of a pest complex, comprising the introduced species [START]H. armigera[END] and the indigenous species, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and Chloridea virescens (Fabricius). The Harm 1 haplotype of [START]H. armigera[END] was identified as the predominant Heliothinae pest infesting fresh-market tomatoes. The New World species Chloridea subflexa (Guenee) as well as the exotic Solanaceae-specific species Helicoverpa assulta (Guenee) were not found in our survey. Additional larvae surveys in processing tomato fields during 2013/2014 in Central Brazil also indicated [START]H. armigera[END] as the most abundant Heliothinae species (95%) together with H. zea (4.75%) and C. virescens (0.25%). The occurrence of distinct Helicoverpa species (which are potentially capable of interbreeding) indicates that novel crop management strategies will be necessary in order to minimize damages caused by this pest complex in tomatoes.
",33666863
0,29058,"Diet-delivered RNAi in [START]Helicoverpa armigera[END]--Progresses and challenges.
[START]Helicoverpa armigera[END] (the [START]cotton bollworm[END]) is a significant agricultural pest endemic to Afro-Eurasia and Oceania. Gene suppression via RNA interference (RNAi) presents a potential avenue for management of the pest, which is highly resistant to traditional insecticide sprays. This article reviews current understanding on the fate of ingested double-stranded RNA in [START]H. armigera[END]. Existing in vivo studies on diet-delivered RNAi and their effects are summarized and followed by a discussion on the factors and hurdles affecting the efficacy of diet-delivered RNAi in [START]H. armigera[END]. 
",26549127
0,29058,"A Renewed Appreciation of Helicoverpa armigera Nucleopolyhedrovirus BJ (Formerly Helicoverpa assulta Nucleopolyhedrovirus) with Whole Genome Sequencing.
Helicoverpa assulta is a pest that causes severe damage to tobacco, pepper and other cash crops. A local strain of HearNPV-BJ (formerly Helicoverpa assulta nucleopolyhedrovirus (HeasNPV-DJ0031)) was isolated from infected H. assulta larvae in Beijing, which had been regarded as a new kind of baculovirus in previous studies. Describing the biological characteristics of the strain, including its external morphology, internal structure and the pathological characteristics of the infection of various cell lines, can provide references for the identification and function of the virus. HearNPV-BJ virion was defined as a single-nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus by scanning electron microscopy. QB-Ha-E-5 ([START]H. armigera[END]) and BCIRL-Hz-AM1 (H. zea) cell lines were sensitive to HearNPV-BJ. Undoubtedly modern developed sequencing technology further facilitates the increasing understanding of various strains. The whole genome sequence of the HearNPV-BJ was sequenced and analyzed. The HearNPV-BJ isolate genome was 129, 800 bp nucleotides in length with a G + C content of 38.87% and contained 128 open reading frames (ORFs) encoding predicted proteins of 50 or over 50 amino acids, 67 ORFs in the forward orientation and 61 ORFs in the reverse orientation, respectively. The genome shared 99% sequence identity with Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus C1 strain (HearNPV-C1), and 103 ORFs had very high homology with published HearNPV sequences. Two bro genes and three hrs were found to be dispersed along the HearNPV-BJ genome. Three of the highest homologs, ORFs with HearNPV, were smaller due to the earlier appearance of the stop codon with unknown functions. P6.9 of HearNPV-BJ, a structural protein, is distinctly different from that of Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV); its homology with the corresponding gene in HearNPV-C1 was 93.58%. HearNPV-BJ contains 38 core genes identified in other baculoviruses, and phylogenetic analysis indicates HearNPV-BJ belongs to Alphabaculovirus Group II, same as HearNPV-C1. The resulting data provide a better understanding of virion structure, gene function and character of infection. By supplementing the whole-genome sequencing data and Kimura-2 model index, there is more evidence to indicate that HearNPV-BJ may be a variant of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus, which also deepens our understanding of the virus species demarcation criteria.
",35337025
0,6999,"[START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END] extract protects against lipopolysaccharide and palmitate-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines and inflammasome formation.
Inflammation and the inflammasome complex formation are associated with numerous diseases, and palmitates or lipopolysaccharides (LPS) have been identified as potential links between these disorders. Recently, edible insects such as the [START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END] (GB) and the larva of Tenebrio molitor have emerged as alternative food sources. In the present study, the effect of GB on LPS- or palmitate-induced production of inflammatory cytokines, the formation of the inflammasome complex, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and cell death was investigated in RAW264.7 cells. The results revealed that GB extract downregulated the production of inflammatory cytokines (such as TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6). Since the role of the MAP kinase and NF-kappaB signalling pathways in the production of inflammatory cytokines is well established, the translocation of p65 into the nucleus and the phosphorylation of IkappaB and MAP kinases were further examined. Both these processes were upregulated following LPS and palmitate treatment, but they were inhibited by the GB extract. Moreover, GB extract decreased LPS/palmitate-induced inflammasome complex formation (assessed via analysing the levels of the apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-recruitment domain, NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3, cleaved caspase-1 and IL-1beta), the generation of ROS, ER stress and cell death. Treatment with SB203580 (a p38 inhibitor), SP600125 (a JNK inhibitor) and pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate ammonium (an NF-kappaB inhibitor) decreased the production of inflammatory cytokines, as well as helped in the recovery of LPS/palmitate-induced cell death. Overall, GB extract served an inhibitory role in LPS/palmitate-induced inflammation via inhibiting the MAP kinase and NF-kappaB signalling pathways, inflammasome complex formation, ROS generation, ER stress and cell death.
",33495809
0,6999,"Glucose-lowering effect of [START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END] powder on streptozotocin-induced diabetes through the AKT/mTOR pathway.
This study was carried out to elucidate the antidiabetic effects of [START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END] powder using a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rat model of type I diabetes. Administration of the insect powder significantly rescued representative diabetes markers (i.e., insulin and C-peptide) in STZ-treated rats. Improved glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) results were also observed, indicating that [START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END] powder exerts antidiabetic effects. [START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END] powder administration rescued STZ-induced alterations in both islet morphology and insulin staining patterns. The extract increased antiapoptotic Bcl2 expression and decreased proapoptotic Bax and active caspase 3 expressions. In addition, the [START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END] powder supplementation enhanced AKT/mTOR pathway, a key marker of the state of anabolic metabolism, and its downstream effector, mTOR. Collectively, our results suggest that [START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END] contributes to the maintenance of pancreatic beta-cell function and morphology against a diabetic state through the regulations against apoptosis and anabolic metabolism.
",31993166
0,6999,"[START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END] extract ameliorates high-fat diet-induced hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia by inhibiting hepatic lipogenesis through AMPK activation.
Insect-based food is increasingly used and is a sustainable protein source provided by eco-friendly breeding respecting the animal welfare. The cricket [START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END] is an approved edible insect. In this paper, the effects of [START]G. bimaculatus[END] extracts (AE-GBE) on hepatic insulin resistance and the underlying mechanisms were investigated in high fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6J mice. Mice were fed HFD for 6 weeks and some were concomitantly given AE-GBE orally (100 mg/kg/day). AE-GBE significantly improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity by attenuating hepatic lipid accumulation measured by the reduced serum and hepatic lipid contents. Moreover, AE-GBE significantly downregulated the expression of hepatic lipogenesis-related genes and activated the AMPK signaling pathway. Therefore, AE-GBE might improve fatty liver and glucose metabolism disorders as well as insulin resistance by inhibiting the expression of proteins involved in hepatic fatty acid synthesis through AMPK activation. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-022-01117-9.
",35992315
0,6999,"The Cricket [START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END]: Techniques for Quantitative and Functional Genetic Analyses of Cricket Biology.
All extant species are an outcome of nature's ""experiments"" during evolution, and hence multiple species need to be studied and compared to gain a thorough understanding of evolutionary processes. The field of evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) aspires to expand the number of species studied, because most functional genetic studies in animals have been limited to a small number of ""traditional"" model organisms, many of which belong to the same phylum (Chordata). The phylum Arthropoda, and particularly its component class Insecta, possesses many important characteristics that are considered favorable and attractive for evo-devo research, including an astonishing diversity of extant species and a wide disparity in body plans. The development of the most thoroughly investigated insect genetic model system to date, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (a holometabolous insect), appears highly derived with respect to other insects and indeed with respect to most arthropods. In comparison, crickets (a basally branching hemimetabolous insect lineage compared to the Holometabola) are thought to embody many developmental features that make them more representative of insects. Here we focus on crickets as emerging models to study problems in a wide range of biological areas and summarize the currently available molecular, genomic, forward and reverse genetic, imaging and computational tool kit that has been established or adapted for cricket research. With an emphasis on the cricket species [START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END], we highlight recent efforts made by the scientific community in establishing this species as a laboratory model for cellular biology and developmental genetics. This broad toolkit has the potential to accelerate many traditional areas of cricket research, including studies of adaptation, evolution, neuroethology, physiology, endocrinology, regeneration, and reproductive behavior. It may also help to establish newer areas, for example, the use of crickets as animal infection model systems and human food sources.
",31598857
0,6999,"Conditioned taste aversion in the cricket [START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END].
Conditioned taste aversion (CTA) is a form of classical conditioning in which animals associate the taste of a food with illness caused by toxin contained in the food. CTA in mammals is achieved with a long interval of up to several hours between food ingestion and illness induced by LiCl injection. Insects also exhibit CTA, but not much is known about its features. We investigated whether the cricket [START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END] exhibits CTA when ingestion of a sugar solution is followed by LiCl injection. Crickets that ingested sucrose solution 5-10 min before LiCl injection exhibited reduction of sucrose consumption tested 24 or 48 h after injection compared to that tested 24 h before injection. In contrast, crickets that ingested sucrose solution 5-10 min after LiCl injection or 1 h or 8 h before or after injection did not exhibit reduction of sucrose consumption, indicating that reduction of sucrose consumption by CTA training is pairing-specific. We conclude that CTA in crickets is similar to that in mammals in that one-trial pairing is sufficient to achieve memory retention for days, but it differs in that it is achieved with a relatively short interval (< 1 h) between food ingestion and toxin injection.
",35697908
0,6999,"[START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END] De Geer hydrolysates alleviate lipid accumulation, inflammation, and endoplasmic reticulum stress in palmitic acid-treated human hepatoma G2 cells.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the common hepatic diseases closely intertwined with saturated fatty acids intake. Therefore, various studies are being conducted to find natural substances to prevent either the onset or progression of NAFLD. According to traditional medicinal literature, it has been reported that [START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END] De Geer (GB) has systemic detoxifying activity; however, the preventive effects of GB on NAFLD have not been elucidated to date. AIM OF STUDY: To evaluate the potential of GB as a material for the mitigation of NAFLD, we investigated the effects of GB hydrolysates on the hepatic lipid accumulation, inflammation, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in human hepatoma G2 (Hep G2) cells treated with palmitic acid (PA). METHODS: Steamed and dried GB was defatted, pulverized, and then lyophilized following hydrolyzation using Neutrase  (GB-N) or Flavourzyme  (GB-F). Hep G2 cells were incubated with GB-N or GB-F at various concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/mL) for 24 h, and PA was treated for another 24 h. RESULTS: The GB-N and GB-F significantly prevented the PA-induced intracellular lipid accumulation in the human liver cells (p < 0.05). Moreover, the GB-N and GB-F increased the hepatic cellular viability against the PA-treatment (p < 0.05). In addition, the GB-N and GB-F significantly ameliorated the PA-inducible proinflammatory cytokines mRNA expression, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta, compared to the PA-treated hepatic cells (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the GB-N and GB-F inhibited the PA-inducible lipogenic mRNA expression, such as fatty acid synthase, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (p < 0.05). Moreover, the GB-N and GB-F alleviated the ER stress-related mRNA expression, such as glucose regulatory protein 78 and X-box binding protein increased in PA-treated cells (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that GB-N and GB-F could be used as materials to prevent the NAFLD onset or progression with alleviating hepatic lipid accumulation, inflammation, and ER stress.
",35182670
0,6999,"[START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END] Extract Protects against Lipopolysaccharide-Derived Inflammatory Response in Human Colon Epithelial Caco-2 Cells.
Increased tight junction permeability and overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines are crucial pathophysiological mechanisms in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study evaluated anti-inflammatory effects of aqueous ethanolic [START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END] extract (AE-GBE) against intestinal permeability on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated Caco-2 cells. Treatment with AE-GBE increased cell viability and significantly reduced inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide and LPS-induced reactive oxidative stress. LPS increased the expression levels of iNOS, Cox-2, and 4-hydroxylnonenal; however, these levels were attenuated by AE-GBE treatment. Moreover, the mRNA and protein expression levels of the inflammatory cytokines TNFalpha, IL-6, IL-1beta, and IFNgamma were increased by LPS, but were significantly reduced by AE-GBE treatment. Intestinal epithelial permeability and the related expression of the proteins Zoula ocludence-1, occludin, and claudin-1 was increased by LPS treatment, and this effect was significantly reduced by AE-GBE treatment. The reduction in AMPK phosphorylation in LPS-treated Caco-2 cells was reversed in activation by co-treatment with AE-GBE. In conclusion, AE-GBE can protect epithelial cells from LPS-induced impaired barrier integrity by increasing tight junction proteins and preventing various inflammatory mediators. Thus, AE-GBE has the potential to improve inflammation-related diseases, including IBD, by inhibiting excessive production of inflammation-inducing mediators.
",34680642
0,6999,"Evaluation of the Immunological Activity of [START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END] Water Extract.
Edible insects are commonly consumed across the world because of their size, availability, and nutritional benefits. They have also been recommended as a potential solution to food shortage because of their high nutritional value. In this study, we demonstrated the immunological effects of [START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END] on RAW 264.7 cells and splenocytes obtained from mouse. This is the first study to evaluate the immunological effects of [START]G. bimaculatus[END] water extract. Innate and adaptive immunity were evaluated and measured in RAW 264.7 cells and/or mouse splenocytes using a cell viability assay; changes in cytokine abundance, nitric oxide production, and cell surface molecule abundance were determined using flow cytometry; and western blotting analysis was performed for various immune signaling pathways. [START]G. bimaculatus[END] water extract showed no cytotoxicity in cells, and the results suggest that treatment with [START]G. bimaculatus[END] water extract can induce macrophage activation through mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-kappaB signaling, induction of proinflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha] and activation of the expression of cell surface molecules [cluster of differentiation (CD)80, CD86, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I, and MHC class II]. Treatment with [START]G. bimaculatus[END] water extract increased the production of cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, and interferon-gamma) in splenocytes. The results indicate that [START]G. bimaculatus[END] water extract can regulate innate and adaptive immunity via modulation macrophages and splenocytes activation and can serve as an immunological agent. We inferred that [START]G. bimaculatus[END] is a safe and efficient natural material that enhances immunological activity.
",35465112
0,6999,"Cricket Meal ([START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END]) as a Protein Supplement on In Vitro Fermentation Characteristics and Methane Mitigation.
The aim of this work was to conduct the effects of cricket ([START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END]) meal (CM) as a protein supplement on in vitro gas production, rumen fermentation, and methane (CH4) mitigation. Dietary treatments were randomly assigned using a completely randomized design (CRD) with a 2 x 5 factorial arrangement. The first factor was two ratios of roughage to concentrate (R:C at 60:40 and 40:60), and the second factor was the level of CM to replace soybean meal (SBM) in a concentrate ratio at 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100, respectively. It was found that in vitro DM degradability and the concentration of propionic (C3) were significantly increased (p < 0.05), while the potential extent of gas production (a + b), acetate (C2), acetate and propionate (C2:C3) ratio, and protozoal population were reduced (p < 0.05) by lowering the R:C ratio and the replacement of SBM by CM. In addition, rumen CH4 production was mitigated (p < 0.05) with increasing levels of CM for SBM. In this study, CM has the potential to improve rumen fermentation by enhancing C3 concentration and DM degradability, reduced methane production, and C2:C3 ratio. The effects were more pronounced (p < 0.05) at low levels of roughage.
",35206703
0,6999,"Molecular mechanisms of limb regeneration: insights from regenerating legs of the cricket [START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END].
This review summarizes recent advances in leg regeneration research, focusing on the cricket [START]Gryllus bimaculatus[END]. Recent studies have revealed molecular mechanisms on blastema formation, establishment of positional information, and epigenetic regulation during leg regeneration. Especially, these studies have provided molecular bases in classical conceptual models such as the polar coordinate model, the intercalation model, the boundary model, the steepness model, etc., which were proposed to interpret regeneration processes of the cockroach legs. When a leg is amputated, a blastema is formed through the activation of the Janus-kinase (Jak)/Signal-Transduction-and-Activator-of-Transcription (STAT) pathway. Subsequently, the Hedgehog/Wingless/Decapentaplegic/Epidermal-growth-factor pathways instruct distalization in the blastema, designated as the molecular boundary model. Downstream targets of this pathway are transcription factors Distal-less (Dll) and dachshund (dac), functioning as key regulators of proximodistal pattern formation. Dll and dac specify the distal and proximal regions in the blastema, respectively, through the regulation of tarsal patterning genes. The expression of leg patterning genes during regeneration may be epigenetically controlled by histone H3K27 methylation via Enhancer-of-zeste and Ubiquitously-transcribed-tetratricopeptide-repeat-gene-X-chromosome. For the molecular mechanism of intercalation of the missing structures between the amputated position and the most distal one, Dachsous/Fat (Ds/Ft) steepness model has been proposed, in which the Ds/Ft pathway maintains positional information and determines leg size through dac expression. This model was theoretically verified to interpret the experimental results obtained with cricket legs. Availability of whole-genome sequence information, regeneration-dependent RNA interference, and genome editing technique will have the cricket be an ideal model system to reveal gene functions in leg regeneration.
",29938767
0,109027,"Interspecific genetics of mate recognition: inheritance of female acoustic preference in Hawaiian crickets.
Female mating behavior plays a fundamental role in the divergent evolution of mate recognition systems that may lead to speciation. Despite this important role, the phenotypic and genetic bases of female mating behavior remain poorly understood. In this study, I examine the shape of the female acoustic preference function and estimate values for pulse rate preference in two species of Hawaiian crickets, [START]Laupala kohalensis[END] and L. paranigra. In addition, I examine how preference differences are inherited in hybrid crosses between these species. Females expressed unimodal preference functions and were generally more attracted to pulse rates characterizing their own species. Unimodal preference functions also characterized F1 and backcross generations, with hybrid females expressing preferences for intermediate pulse rates. Pulse rate preferences segregated in the backcross generation. Mean pulse rate preference matched mean pulse rate in both parental and hybrid generations. Based on F1 hybrids and segregation patterns in backcross females, I show that changes in both signal and receiver components of the mate recognition system are consistent with a multilocus model of change through incremental steps. The results therefore suggest that ancestors of the current species also expressed unimodal preference functions and that changes in acoustic communication signals occurred through shifts in mean pulse rates and pulse rate preferences among populations.
",11005297
0,109027,"Divergence of mate recognition behavior and its consequences for genetic architectures of speciation.
The divergence of premating behavior and morphology plays a primary role in speciation, and an understanding of the genetic architectures of these phenotypes is essential for the evaluation of models of the speciation process. However, our empirical knowledge of the genetics underlying speciation-related traits remains limited. In this article, we argue that a dissection of specific aspects of the genetic architecture of such traits in a comparative context can allow us to rule out some mechanisms of divergence. We discuss these ideas with reference to our investigation of intersexual communication behaviors involved in mate recognition in the Hawaiian cricket genus [START]Laupala[END]. Different species of [START]Laupala[END] sing distinctively and show species-specific acoustic preferences. We focus on the sister species [START]Laupala[END] paranigra and [START]Laupala[END] kohalensis, characterized by differences in these classic courtship phenotypes. We discuss our preliminary results on the directionality of effect of substituted alleles underlying these species differences. We then discuss these results in the context of historical inference, a necessary perspective for testing the genomic predictions made by theories of speciation that focus on evolution of mate recognition systems.
",18707370
0,109027,"Genomic linkage of male song and female acoustic preference QTL underlying a rapid species radiation.
The genetic coupling hypothesis of signal-preference evolution, whereby the same genes control male signal and female preference for that signal, was first inspired by the evolution of cricket acoustic communication nearly 50 years ago. To examine this hypothesis, we compared the genomic location of quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlying male song and female acoustic preference variation in the Hawaiian cricket genus [START]Laupala[END]. We document a QTL underlying female acoustic preference variation between 2 closely related species ([START]Laupala[END] kohalensis and [START]Laupala[END] paranigra). This preference QTL colocalizes with a song QTL identified previously, providing compelling evidence for a genomic linkage of the genes underlying these traits. We show that both song and preference QTL make small to moderate contributions to the behavioral difference between species, suggesting that divergence in mating behavior among [START]Laupala[END] species is due to the fixation of many genes of minor effect. The diversity of acoustic signaling systems in crickets exemplifies the evolution of elaborate male displays by sexual selection through female choice. Our data reveal genetic conditions that would enable functional coordination between song and acoustic preference divergence during speciation, resulting in a behaviorally coupled mode of signal-preference evolution. Interestingly, [START]Laupala[END] exhibits one of the fastest rates of speciation in animals, concomitant with equally rapid evolution in sexual signaling behaviors. Genomic linkage may facilitate rapid speciation by contributing to genetic correlations between sexual signaling behaviors that eventually cause sexual isolation between diverging populations.
",19487670
0,109027,"Genetic and behavioral components of the cryptic species boundary between Laupala cerasina and [START]L. kohalensis[END] (Orthoptera: Gryllidae).
Cryptic species are often hypothesized on the basis of differences in courtship signals. These signal differences suggest that mate recognition systems, which include both courtship signals and responses to those signals, have diverged between genetically isolated populations. Cryptic species are therefore thought to represent distinct genetic units, the boundaries of which are maintained by premating incompatibilities, specifically by receiver preferences for conspecific signals. Laupala cerasina and [START]L. kohalensis[END] are sympatric species of swordtail crickets endemic to the big island of Hawaii, that are distinguishable by differences in male courtship song. We first tested whether groupings hypothesized by acoustic similarity reflect genetic groupings, using AFLP data to estimate genetic relationships. Second, we tested whether genetic boundaries are maintained by female preferences for conspecific song characteristics. Phonotaxis trials were used to determine the extent of female preferences for conspecific male song. Results generally support both hypotheses, but suggest the presence of porous species boundaries.
",12555786
0,109027,"QTL analysis of a rapidly evolving speciation phenotype in the Hawaiian cricket Laupala.
In mate recognition systems, the functional necessity to coordinate traits involved in sexual communication should result in reduced pairing potential for new variants outside the distribution of common reproductive signals. Yet, many closely related, sexual species differ in mate recognition traits, suggesting that directional selection influences the divergence of mate recognition systems. Species of the endemic Hawaiian cricket genus Laupala are morphologically and ecologically cryptic, although both male calling song and female acoustic preference have diverged rapidly between closely related species. These mate recognition phenotypes are therefore often likely to be speciation phenotypes, i.e. traits whose divergence contributes, directly or indirectly, to a reduction of gene flow during speciation, given their frequent participation in early lineage divergence. We conducted a replicated, quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping study of the genetic basis of differences in male calling song between two closely related species, Laupala paranigra and Laupala kohalensis, allowing us to examine the genetic basis of traits involved in rapid speciation. We found statistical support for eight QTL in one replicate, with at least four of these QTL mapping to the same regions in a second replicate. QTL effects ranged between 3.0% and 10.7% of the difference in pulse rate between L. paranigra and [START]L. kohalensis[END], and are thus of moderate to small effect. All QTL identified show directional effects consistent with the hypothesis of directional selection. Thus, we conclude that rapid speciation can occur under the influence of many genes of moderate to small effect. This study implicates the role of directional selection in the divergence of mate recognition traits and speciation the Hawaiian cricket genus Laupala.
",17614904
0,109027,"The genetics of speciation: genes of small effect underlie sexual isolation in the Hawaiian cricket Laupala.
Sexual behaviours often evolve rapidly and are critical for sexual isolation. We suggest that coordinated sexual signals and preferences generate stabilizing selection, favouring the accumulation of many small-effect mutations in sexual communication traits. Rapid radiation of a sexual behaviour used in signalling, song pulse rate, has been observed in the Hawaiian cricket genus Laupala. Using marker-assisted introgression, we isolated five known quantitative trait loci (QTL) influencing species-level differences in pulse rate from one species, L. paranigra, into a closely related species, [START]L. kohalensis[END]. All five QTL were found to have a significant effect on song and appear to be largely additive in backcross introgression lines. Furthermore, all effect sizes were small in magnitude. Our data provide support for the hypothesis that stabilizing selection on sexual signals in Laupala creates genetic conditions favourable to incremental divergence during speciation, through the evolution of alleles of minor rather than major phenotypic effects.
",21375646
0,109027,"A cricket Gene Index: a genomic resource for studying neurobiology, speciation, and molecular evolution.
BACKGROUND: As the developmental costs of genomic tools decline, genomic approaches to non-model systems are becoming more feasible. Many of these systems may lack advanced genetic tools but are extremely valuable models in other biological fields. Here we report the development of expressed sequence tags (EST's) in an orthopteroid insect, a model for the study of neurobiology, speciation, and evolution. RESULTS: We report the sequencing of 14,502 EST's from clones derived from a nerve cord cDNA library, and the subsequent construction of a Gene Index from these sequences, from the Hawaiian trigonidiine cricket [START]Laupala kohalensis[END]. The Gene Index contains 8607 unique sequences comprised of 2575 tentative consensus (TC) sequences and 6032 singletons. For each of the unique sequences, an attempt was made to assign a provisional annotation and to categorize its function using a Gene Ontology-based classification through a sequence-based comparison to known proteins. In addition, a set of unique 70 base pair oligomers that can be used for DNA microarrays was developed. All Gene Index information is posted at the DFCI Gene Indices web page CONCLUSION: Orthopterans are models used to understand the neurophysiological basis of complex motor patterns such as flight and stridulation. The sequences presented in the cricket Gene Index will provide neurophysiologists with many genetic tools that have been largely absent in this field. The cricket Gene Index is one of only two gene indices to be developed in an evolutionary model system. Species within the genus Laupala have speciated recently, rapidly, and extensively. Therefore, the genes identified in the cricket Gene Index can be used to study the genomics of speciation. Furthermore, this gene index represents a significant EST resources for basal insects. As such, this resource is a valuable comparative tool for the understanding of invertebrate molecular evolution. The sequences presented here will provide much needed genomic resources for three distinct but overlapping fields of inquiry: neurobiology, speciation, and molecular evolution.
",17459168
0,109027,"POLYGENIC INHERITANCE OF A BEHAVIORAL PHENOTYPE: INTERSPECIFIC GENETICS OF SONG IN THE HAWAIIAN CRICKET GENUS LAUPALA.
The Hawaiian cricket genus Laupala (family Gryllidae) is one of several native genera of flightless crickets found in rain-forest habitat across the Hawaiian archipelago. Species in this genus are morphologically quite similar, but the songs produced by adult males are acoustically distinct. I examined the nature of song variation found within Laupala paranigra and between [START]Laupala kohalensis[END] and L. paranigra, both endemic to the island of Hawaii. Variation within and among species was most notable in the temporal structure of the song, as quantified by the pulse rate. The variation in pulse rate present in natural populations of L. paranigra bred true through the F1 laboratory generation, suggesting that the intraspecific variation in this species has a genetic basis. Interspecific hybridizations between [START]L. kohalensis[END] and L. paranigra successfully produced F1 , F2 , and backcross generations. Hybrid F1 males from reciprocal crosses sang with significantly different pulse rates, implicating an X chromosomal contribution to the phenotypic difference between these species. Interspecific patterns of inheritance are most consistent with a type-I genetic architecture. Polygenic inheritance of the interspecific pulse-rate variation was observed, and approximately eight genetic factors were estimated to underlie the difference in pulse rate between [START]L. kohalensis[END] and L. paranigra.
",28568889
0,109027,"Widespread genetic linkage of mating signals and preferences in the Hawaiian cricket Laupala.
The evolution of novel sexual communication systems is integral to the process of speciation, as it discourages gene flow between incipient species. Physical linkage between genes underlying male-female communication (i.e. sexual signals and preferences for them) facilitates both rapid and coordinated divergence of sexual communication systems between populations and reduces recombination in the face of occasional hybridization between diverging populations. Despite these ramifications of the genetic architecture of sexual communication for sexual selection and speciation, few studies have examined this relationship empirically. Previous studies of the closely related Hawaiian crickets Laupala paranigra and Laupala kohalensis have indirectly suggested that many of the genes underlying the difference in pulse rate of male song are physically linked with genes underlying the difference in female preference for pulse rate. Using marker-assisted introgression, we moved 'slow pulse rate' alleles from L. paranigra at five known quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlying male pulse rate into the 'fast pulse rate' genetic background of [START]L. kohalensis[END] and assessed the effect of these loci on female preference. An astounding four out of five song QTL predicted the preferences of female fourth-generation backcrosses, providing direct evidence for the extensive genetic linkage of song and preference in one of the fastest diversifying genera currently known.
",21957135
0,109027,"Multiple genetic linkages between female preference and male signal in rapidly speciating Hawaiian crickets.
Diverging sexual communication systems can lead to the evolution of new species that no longer recognize each other as potential mates. The coevolution of male and female components of sexual communication is facilitated by physical linkage between genes underlying signals and preferences. By crossing two closely related Hawaiian crickets ([START]Laupala[END] kohalensis and [START]Laupala[END] paranigra) with vastly different song pulse rates and female preferences, and assessing segregation of songs and preferences among second generation backcrosses, we show a strong genetic correlation between song and preference variation. Furthermore, multiple, but not all, quantitative trait loci underlying song variation also predict female preferences. This physical linkage or pleiotropy may have facilitated the striking diversification of pulse rates observed among [START]Laupala[END] species in conjunction with one of the most rapid species radiations so far recorded.
",20394669
0,7091,"The brain secretory peptides that control moulting and metamorphosis of the silkmoth, [START]Bombyx mori[END].
Progress made toward the elucidation of molecular features of the prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) of the silkmoth [START]Bombyx mori[END] is reviewed. PTTH stimulates the prothoracic glands to synthesize and release ecdysone, and is therefore a key hormone for the regulation of insect moulting and metamorphosis. Bombyx PTTH is a 30 kDa homodimeric glycoprotein, whose carbohydrate moiety is not essential for the biological function. The Bombyx genome contains a single copy of the PTTH gene. PTTH is produced by four dorsolateral neurosecretory cells of brain. Another Bombyx brain peptide exerting prothoracicotropic activity to a heterologous moth Samia cynthia ricini but no activity to Bombyx has been identified and termed bombyxin. Bombyxin is a 5 kDa heterodimeric peptide that shows a high similarity to insulin in the amino acid sequence. The bombyxin gene structure also shows a high similarity with the insulin gene structure. The Bombyx genome contains more than 30 copies of the bombyxin gene. Bombyxin is synthesized by eight dorsomedial neurosecretory cells of brain.
",7981038
0,7091,"Functional analysis of novel sulfotransferases in the [START]silkworm[END] [START]Bombyx mori[END].
Sulfoconjugation plays a vital role in the detoxification of xenobiotics and in the metabolism of endogenous compounds. In this study, we aimed to identify new members of the sulfotransferase (SULT) superfamily in the [START]silkworm[END] [START]Bombyx mori[END]. Based on amino acid sequence and phylogenetic analyses, two new enzymes, swSULT ST1 and swSULT ST2, were identified that appear to belong to a distinct group of SULTs including several other insect SULTs. We expressed, purified, and characterized recombinant SULTs. While swSULT ST1 sulfated xanthurenic acid and pentachlorophenol, swSULT ST2 exclusively utilized xanthurenic acid as a substrate. Based on these results, and those concerning the tissue distribution and substrate specificity toward pentachlorophenol analyses, we hypothesize that swSULT ST1 plays a role in the detoxification of xenobiotics, including insecticides, in the [START]silkworm[END] midgut and in the induction of gametogenesis in silkworm ovary and testis. Collectively, the data obtained herein contribute to a better understanding of SULT enzymatic functions in insects.
",32227386
0,7091,"Immune proteins and their gene expression in the [START]silkworm[END], [START]Bombyx mori[END].
Several self-defense proteins have been isolated from the [START]silkworm[END], [START]Bombyx mori[END] and their amino acid sequences determined. These proteins include novel antibacterial proteins designated lebocin and moricin, and a novel lectin designated hemocytin, an insect homologue of mammalian von Willebrand factor. Antibacterial mechanisms of lebocin and moricin have been analyzed and their ability to form ion channels in bacterial membranes play an important role in defense against bacterial infection. cDNAs and genes encoding these proteins have been cloned to examine their induction mechanisms upon bacterial infection. Regulatory motifs such as the kappaB-like and GATA sequence have been identified in the [START]B. mori[END] antibacterial proteins. On the other hand, hemocytin gene expression was confirmed to occur upon bacterial infection and before pupation under naive conditions, suggesting that hemocytin plays an important role in both immunity and metamorphosis. Moreover, this review also describes the releasing mechanisms of a bacterial cell wall component, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), from intact bacteria, clearance of LPS from [START]B. mori[END] hemolymph and a possible signal transduction pathway for antibacterial protein gene expression.
",10426422
0,7091,"Transcriptome reveal the response to Cry1Ac toxin in susceptible [START]Bombyx mori[END].
[START]Bombyx mori[END] as a representative in Lepidoptera is an important economic insect in agriculture production. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a bacterial pathogen in [START]silkworm[END] production. Understanding how [START]silkworm[END] respond to Bt-toxin can provide guidance to cultivate resistant [START]silkworm[END] strains. Cry1Ac is one type of Bt-toxin. In current research, Dazao, a susceptible [START]B. mori[END] strain to Bt-toxin, was treated by Cry1Ac toxin and compared its transcriptome with untreated samples. This analysis detected 1234 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene Ontology, KEGG, and UniProt keyword enrichment analysis showed that DEGs include ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter, stress response, cuticle, and protein synthesis, and folding process. Five ABC genes were upregulated after Cry1Ac treatment including ABCA2, ABCA3, and ABCC4. They are also known as the transporters of Bt-toxin in lepidopteran insect. Expression of cuticle proteins was significantly increased at 6 h after Cry1Ac treatment. Sex-specific storage-proteins and heat shock protein were also upregulated in Cry1Ac treated samples. Our data provide an expression profile about the response of Cry1Ac toxin in susceptible [START]B. mori[END] strain.
",33948968
0,7091,"The progress and future of enhancing antiviral capacity by transgenic technology in the [START]silkworm[END] [START]Bombyx mori[END].
[START]Bombyx mori[END] is a common lepidopteran model and an important economic insect for silk production. B. mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is a typical pathogenic baculovirus that causes serious economic losses in sericulture. [START]B. mori[END] and BmNPV are a model of insect host and pathogen interaction including invasion of the host by the pathogen, host response, and enhancement of host resistance. The antiviral capacity of [START]silkworms[END] can be improved by transgenic technology such as overexpression of an endogenous or exogenous antiviral gene, RNA interference of the BmNPV gene, or regulation of the immune pathway to inhibit BmNPV at different stages of infection. Antiviral capacity could be further increased by combining different methods. We discuss the future of an antiviral strategy in [START]silkworm[END], including possible improvement of anti-BmNPV, the feasibility of constructing transgenic [START]silkworms[END] with resistance to multiple viruses, and the safety of transgenic [START]silkworms[END]. The [START]silkworm[END] model could provide a reference for disease control in other organisms.
",24561307
0,7091,"Overview of research on [START]Bombyx mori[END] microRNA.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute some of the most significant regulatory factors involved at the post-transcriptional level after gene expression, contributing to the modulation of a large number of physiological processes such as development, metabolism, and disease occurrence. This review comprehensively and retrospectively explores the literature investigating [START]silkworm[END], [START]Bombyx mori[END] L. (Lepidoptera: Bombicidae), miRNAs published to date, including discovery, identification, expression profiling analysis, target gene prediction, and the functional analysis of both miRNAs and their targets. It may provide experimental considerations and approaches for future study of miRNAs and benefit elucidation of the mechanisms of miRNAs involved in [START]silkworm[END] developmental processes and intracellular activities of other unknown non-coding RNAs. 
",25368077
0,7091,"Relationship between Changes in Intestinal Microorganisms and Effect of High Temperature on the Growth and Development of [START]Bombyx mori[END] Larvae.
Temperature is an important environmental factor affecting the growth and development of [START]silkworm[END] ([START]Bombyx mori[END]). To analyze the effect of intestinal microbes on [START]silkworm[END] in response to a high-temperature environment, this study used a combination of high throughput sequencing and biochemical assays to detect [START]silkworm[END] intestinal microbes treated with high temperature for 72 h. The results show that high temperature affects the intestinal microbes of [START]silkworm[END] and that there are sex differences, specifically, females were more sensitive. The changes in the metabolism and transport ability of [START]silkworm[END] intestinal tissues under high temperature are related to the intestinal microbes. High temperatures may affect the intestinal microbes of [START]silkworms[END], regulating the activity of related digestive enzymes and substance transport in the intestine, thereby affecting the [START]silkworm[END]'s digestion and absorption of nutrients, and ultimately affecting growth and development.
",36142203
0,7091,"Impact of sublethal chlorantraniliprole on epidermis of [START]Bombyx mori[END] during prepupal-pupal transition.
The [START]silkworm[END] [START]Bombyx mori[END], an economically important insect with a long domestication history, exhibits high sensitivity to chemical pesticides. Extensive application of chlorantraniliprole (CAP) in control of pests of agricultural crops and mulberry plants causes residue toxicity to [START]silkworm[END]. We have demonstrated that sublethal concentration of CAP exposure causes defects in the formation of new epidermis and incomplete shedding of old epidermis during prepupal-pupal transition of [START]B. mori[END]. However, the underlying mechanism still remains unclear. Here, we investigated the transcriptional responses of the epidermis of [START]B. mori[END] on day 2 at prepupal stage to sublethal CAP exposure using digital gene expression (DGE) profiling sequencing. We identified 5823 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with 4830 genes up-regulated and 993 genes down-regulated. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis showed that CAP exposure induced disruption of energy homeostasis, oxidative stress, autophagy and apoptosis in the epidermis of [START]B. mori[END]. Meanwhile, trehalose content was increased while most of the genes involved in trehalose metabolism were down-regulated. In addition, chitin contents in CAP-exposed [START]silkworms[END] were decreased. Taken together, these results reveal that sublethal concentration of CAP probably targets trehalose metabolism to impair chitin synthesis, leading to perturbation of pupation metamorphosis in [START]B. mori[END].
",36127071
0,7091,"Inhibition of heat shock protein 90 suppresses Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus replication in [START]B. mori[END].
Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) plays a very important role in facilitating the replication of many viruses. Until now, little has been known about the role of Hsp90 in [START]Bombyx mori[END] virus infection. In this study, we explored the role of BmHsp90 in B. mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) replication. We found that BmHsp90 inhibition by geldanamycin (GA) significantly reduced the BmNPV titre, the protein expression level of BmNPV nucleocapsid protein 39 (VP39) and the transcript level of BmNPV genes. Silencing the hsp90 gene in BmN cells by small interfering RNA suppressed BmNPV replication whereas overexpression of hsp90 promoted the replication of BmNPV. After inhibition of Hsp90, the expression of three key genes [signal transducing activator of transcription (stat), suppressor of cytokine signalling protein 2 (socs2), socs6] involved in the Janus kinase/STAT pathway significantly changed, with up-regulation of stat and down-regulation of socs2 and socs6. In addition, the expression of two antiapoptosis genes, BmNPV inhibitor of apoptosis protein1 (BmNPV-iap1) and Bmiap2, was greatly decreased in GA-treated cells, whereas their expression was significantly increased in hsp90-overexpressed [START]silkworm[END] larvae. Our results indicated that inhibition of Hsp90 can suppress BmNPV proliferation in [START]B. mori[END]. Our findings may provide new clues to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of [START]silkworm[END]-virus interactions.
",31621968
0,7091,"High-resolution analysis of baculovirus-induced host manipulation in the [START]domestic silkworm[END], [START]Bombyx mori[END].
Many parasites manipulate host behaviour to enhance their transmission. Baculoviruses induce enhanced locomotory activity (ELA) combined with subsequent climbing behaviour in lepidopteran larvae, which facilitates viral dispersal. However, the mechanisms underlying host manipulation system are largely unknown. Previously, larval locomotion during ELA was summarized as the distance travelled for a few minutes at several time points, which are unlikely to characterize ELA precisely, as ELA typically persists for several hours. In this study, we modified a recently developed method using time-lapse recording to characterize locomotion of [START]Bombyx mori[END] larvae infected with Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) for 24 h at 3 s resolution.Our data showed that the locomotion of the mock-infected larvae was restricted to a small area, whereas the BmNPV-infected larvae exhibited a large locomotory area. These results indicate that BmNPV dysregulates the locomotory pattern of host larvae. Furthermore, both the mock- and BmNPV-infected larvae showed periodic cycles of movement and stationary behavior with a similar frequency, suggesting the physiological mechanisms that induce locomotion are unaffected by BmNPV infection. In contrast, the BmNPV-infected larvae exhibited fast and long-lasting locomotion compared with mock-infected larvae, which indicates that locomotory speed and duration are manipulated by BmNPV.
",33054893
0,7460,"Transcriptional markers of sub-optimal nutrition in developing [START]Apis mellifera[END] nurse workers.
BACKGROUND: [START]Honey bees[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]) contribute substantially to the worldwide economy and ecosystem health as pollinators. Pollen is essential to the bee's diet, providing protein, lipids, and micronutrients. The dramatic shifts in physiology, anatomy, and behavior that accompany normal worker development are highly plastic and recent work demonstrates that development, particularly the transition from nurse to foraging roles, is greatly impacted by diet. However, the role that diet plays in the developmental transition of newly eclosed [START]bees[END] to nurse workers is poorly understood. To further understand [START]honey bee[END] nutrition and the role of diet in nurse development, we used a high-throughput screen of the transcriptome of 3 day and 8 day old worker [START]bees[END] fed either honey and stored pollen (rich diet) or honey alone (poor diet) within the hive. We employed a three factor (age, diet, age x diet) analysis of the transcriptome to determine whether diet affected nurse worker physiology and whether poor diet altered the developmental processes normally associated with aging. RESULTS: Substantial changes in gene expression occurred due to starvation. Diet-induced changes in gene transcription occurring in younger [START]bees[END] were largely a subset of those occurring in older [START]bees[END], but certain signatures of starvation were only evident 8 day old workers. Of the 18,542 annotated transcripts in the [START]A. mellifera[END] genome, 150 transcripts exhibited differential expression due to poor diet at 3d of age compared with 17,226 transcripts that differed due to poor diet at 8d of age, and poor diet caused more frequent down-regulation of gene expression in younger [START]bees[END] compared to older [START]bees[END]. In addition, the age-related physiological changes that accompanied early adult development differed due to the diet these young adult [START]bees[END] were fed. More frequent down-regulation of gene expression was observed in developing [START]bees[END] fed a poor diet compared to those fed an adequate diet. Functional analyses also suggest that the physiological and developmental processes occurring in well-fed [START]bees[END] are vastly different than those occurring in pollen deprived [START]bees[END]. Our data support the hypothesis that poor diet causes normal age-related development to go awry. CONCLUSION: Poor nutrition has major consequences for the expression of genes underlying the physiology and age-related development of nurse worker [START]bees[END]. More work is certainly needed to fully understand the consequences of starvation and the complex biology of nutrition and development in this system, but the genes identified in the present study provide a starting point for understanding the consequences of poor diet and for mitigating the economic costs of colony starvation.
",24529032
0,7460,"Transcriptome analysis of [START]Apis mellifera[END] under benomyl stress to discriminate the gene expression in response to development and immune systems.
The health and safety of the [START]honeybees[END] are seriously threatened due to the abuse of chemical pesticides in modern agriculture and apiculture. In this study, the RNA Seq approach was used to assess the effects of the [START]honeybees[END] treated with benomyl. The results showed that there were a total of 11,902 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Among them, 5,759 DEGs were up-regulated and involved in the functions of immunity, detoxification, biological metabolism, and regulation. The DEGs were clustered in the GO terms of epidermal structure and response to external stimuli, and most of the DEGs were enriched in 15 pathways, such as light conduction, MAPK, calcium ion pathway, and so on. Moreover, the pathway of the toll signal transduction was activated. The data investigated that the expression of functional genes involved in the growth, development, foraging, and immunity of [START]honeybees[END] were significantly affected by benomyl stress, which would seriously threaten the health of the [START]honeybees[END]. This study provided a theoretical basis for revealing the response mechanism of [START]honeybees[END] to pesticides stress.
",34082650
0,7460,"Transgenerational accumulation of methylome changes discovered in commercially reared [START]honey bee[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]) queens.
Whether a female [START]honey bee[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]) develops into a worker or a queen depends on her nutrition during development, which changes the epigenome to alter the developmental trajectory. Beekeepers typically exploit this developmental plasticity to produce queen bee by transplanting worker larvae into queen cells to be reared as queens, thus redirecting a worker developmental pathway to a queen developmental pathway. We studied the consequences of this manipulation for the queen phenotype and methylome over four generations. Queens reared from worker larvae consistently had fewer ovarioles than queens reared from eggs. Over four generations the methylomes of lines of queens reared from eggs and worker larvae diverged, accumulating increasing differences in exons of genes related to caste differentiation, growth and immunity. We discuss the consequences of these cryptic changes to the [START]honey bee[END] epigenome for the health and viability of [START]honey bee[END] stocks.
",33053387
0,7460,"Transcriptome comparison between inactivated and activated ovaries of the [START]honey bee[END] [START]Apis mellifera[END] L.
Ovarian activity not only influences fertility, but is also involved with the regulation of division of labour between reproductive and behavioural castes of female [START]honey bees[END]. In order to identify candidate genes associated with ovarian activity, we compared the gene expression patterns between inactivated and activated ovaries of queens and workers by means of high-throughput RNA-sequencing technology. A total of 1615 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was detected between ovaries of virgin and mated queens, and more than 5300 DEGs were detected between inactivated and activated worker ovaries. Intersection analysis of DEGs amongst five libraries revealed that a similar set of genes (824) participated in the ovary activation of both queens and workers. A large number of these DEGs were predominantly related to cellular, cell and cell part, binding, biological regulation and metabolic processes. In addition, over 1000 DEGs were linked to more than 230 components of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways, including 25 signalling pathways. The reliability of the RNA-sequencing results was confirmed by means of quantitative real-time PCR. Our results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in ovary activation and reproductive division of labour. 
",25039886
0,7460,"Antibacterial immune competence of [START]honey bees[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]) is adapted to different life stages and environmental risks.
The development of all [START]honey bee[END] castes proceeds through three different life stages all of which encounter microbial infections to a various extent. We have examined the immune strength of [START]honey bees[END] across all developmental stages with emphasis on the temporal expression of cellular and humoral immune responses upon artificial challenge with viable Escherichia coli bacteria. We employed a broad array of methods to investigate defence strategies of infected individuals: (a) fate of bacteria in the haemocoel; (b) nodule formation and (c) induction of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Newly emerged adult worker [START]bees[END] and drones were able to activate efficiently all examined immune reactions. The number of viable bacteria circulating in the haemocoel of infected [START]bees[END] declined rapidly by more than two orders of magnitude within the first 4-6 h post-injection (p.i.), coinciding with the occurrence of melanised nodules. Antimicrobial activity, on the other hand, became detectable only after the initial bacterial clearance. These two temporal patterns of defence reactions very likely represent the constitutive cellular and the induced humoral immune response. A unique feature of [START]honey bees[END] is that a fraction of worker [START]bees[END] survives the winter season in a cluster mostly engaged in thermoregulation. We show here that the overall immune strength of winter [START]bees[END] matches that of young summer [START]bees[END] although nodulation reactions are not initiated at all. As expected, high doses of injected viable E.coli bacteria caused no mortality in larvae or adults of each age. However, drone and worker pupae succumbed to challenge with E.coli even at low doses, accompanied by a premature darkening of the pupal body. In contrast to larvae and adults, we observed no fast clearance of viable bacteria and no induction of AMPs but a rapid proliferation of E.coli bacteria in the haemocoel of bee pupae ultimately leading to their death. 
",23799099
0,7460,"A variant reference data set for the Africanized honeybee, [START]Apis mellifera[END].
The Africanized honeybee (AHB) is a population of [START]Apis mellifera[END] found in the Americas. AHBs originated in 1956 in Rio Clara, Brazil where imported African A. m. scutellata escaped and hybridized with local populations of European [START]A. mellifera[END]. Africanized populations can now be found from Northern Argentina to the Southern United States. AHBs-often referred to as 'Killer [START]Bees[END]'- are a major concern to the beekeeping industry as well as a model for the evolutionary genetics of colony defence. We performed high coverage pooled-resequencing of 360 diploid workers from 30 Brazilian AHB colonies using Illumina Hi-Seq (150 bp PE). This yielded a high density SNP data set with an average read depth at each site of 20.25 reads. With 3,606,720 SNPs and 155,336 SNPs within 11,365 genes, this data set is the largest genomic resource available for AHBs and will enable high-resolution studies of the population dynamics, evolution, and genetics of this successful biological invader, in addition to facilitating the development of SNP-based tools for identifying AHBs.
",27824336
0,7460,"Comparison of learning and memory of Apis cerana and [START]Apis mellifera[END].
The [START]honeybee[END] is an excellent model organism for research on learning and memory among invertebrates. Learning and memory in [START]honeybees[END] has intrigued neuroscientists and entomologists in the last few decades, but attention has focused almost solely on the Western [START]honeybee[END], [START]Apis mellifera[END]. In contrast, there have been few studies on learning and memory in the Eastern honeybee, Apis cerana. Here we report comparative behavioral data of color and grating learning and memory for A. cerana and [START]A. mellifera[END] in China, gathered using a Y-maze apparatus. We show for the first time that the learning and memory performance of A. cerana is significantly better on both color and grating patterns than that of [START]A. mellifera[END]. This study provides the first evidence of a learning and memory difference between A. cerana and [START]A. mellifera[END] under controlled conditions, and it is an important basis for the further study of the mechanism of learning and memory in [START]honeybees[END].
",22922838
0,7460,"Parallel Mechanism Composed of Abdominal Cuticles and Muscles Simulates the Complex and Diverse Movements of [START]Honey Bee[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END] L.) Abdomen.
The abdominal intersegmental structures allow insects, such as [START]honey bees[END], dragonflies, butterflies, and drosophilae, to complete diverse behavioral movements. In order to reveal how the complex abdominal movements of these insects are produced, we use the [START]honey bee[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END] L.) as a typical insect to study the relationship between intersegmental structures and abdominal motions. Microstructure observational experiments are performed by using the stereoscope and the scanning electron microscope. We find that a parallel mechanism, composed of abdominal cuticle and muscles between the adjacent segments, produces the complex and diverse movements of the [START]honey bee[END] abdomen. These properties regulate multiple behavioral activities such as waggle dance and flight attitude adjustment. The experimental results demonstrate that it is the joint efforts of the muscles and membranes that connected the adjacent cuticles together. The [START]honey bee[END] abdomen can be waggled, expanded, contracted, and flexed with the actions of the muscles. From the view point of mechanics, a parallel mechanism is evolved from the intersegmental connection structures of the [START]honey bee[END] abdomen. Here, we conduct a kinematic analysis of the parallel mechanism to simulate the intersegmental abdominal motions.
",33098431
0,7460,"8. The development and evolution of division of labor and foraging specialization in a social insect ([START]Apis mellifera[END] L.).
How does complex social behavior evolve? What are the developmental building blocks of division of labor and specialization, the hallmarks of insect societies? Studies have revealed the developmental origins in the evolution of division of labor and specialization in foraging worker [START]honeybees[END], the hallmarks of complex insect societies. Selective breeding for a single social trait, the amount of surplus pollen stored in the nest (pollen hoarding) revealed a phenotypic architecture of correlated traits at multiple levels of biological organization in facultatively sterile female worker [START]honeybees[END]. Verification of this phenotypic architecture in ""wild-type"" [START]bees[END] provided strong support for a ""pollen foraging syndrome"" that involves increased senso-motor responses, motor activity, associative learning, reproductive status, and rates of behavioral development, as well as foraging behavior. This set of traits guided further research into reproductive regulatory systems that were co-opted by natural selection during the evolution of social behavior. Division of labor, characterized by changes in the tasks performed by [START]bees[END], as they age, is controlled by hormones linked to ovary development. Foraging specialization on nectar and pollen results also from different reproductive states of [START]bees[END] where nectar foragers engage in pre-reproductive behavior, foraging for nectar for self-maintenance, while pollen foragers perform foraging tasks associated with reproduction and maternal care, collecting protein.
",16860670
0,7460,"The role of Vitellogenin in the transfer of immune elicitors from gut to hypopharyngeal glands in [START]honey bees[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]).
Female insects that survive a pathogen attack can produce more pathogen-resistant offspring in a process called trans-generational immune priming. In the [START]honey bee[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]), the egg-yolk precursor protein Vitellogenin transports fragments of pathogen cells into the egg, thereby setting the stage for a recruitment of immunological defenses prior to hatching. [START]Honey bees[END] live in complex societies where reproduction and communal tasks are divided between a queen and her sterile female workers. Worker [START]bees[END] metabolize Vitellogenin to synthesize royal jelly, a protein-rich glandular secretion fed to the queen and young larvae. We ask if workers can participate in trans-generational immune priming by transferring pathogen fragments to the queen or larvae via royal jelly. As a first step toward answering this question, we tested whether worker-ingested bacterial fragments can be transported to jelly-producing glands, and what role Vitellogenin plays in this transport. To do this, we fed fluorescently labelled Escherichia coli to workers with experimentally manipulated levels of Vitellogenin. We found that bacterial fragments were transported to the glands of control workers, while they were not detected at the glands of workers subjected to RNA interference-mediated Vitellogenin gene knockdown, suggesting that Vitellogenin plays a role in this transport. Our results provide initial evidence that trans-generational immune priming may operate at a colony-wide level in [START]honey bees[END].
",30578811
0,7460,"Metabolomic analysis of [START]honey bee[END], [START]Apis mellifera[END] L. response to thiacloprid.
The cyano-substituted neonicotinoid insecticide, thiacloprid, is nowadays widely used in agriculture for controlling insect pests. However, it also simultaneously has adverse effects on the health of important pollinators, such as [START]honey bees[END]. Previous studies have reported that sublethal doses of neonicotinoids impaired immunocompetence, learning and memory performance, and homing behaviour in [START]honey bees[END]. In the present study, using LC-MS-based combined with GC-MS-based metabolomic approaches, we profiled the metabolic changes that occur in the head of [START]honey bee[END] after subchronic exposure to 2 mg/L thiacloprid over 3 days. The estimated total dose of thiacloprid fed to each bee was 0.12 mug. The results showed that there were 115 metabolites significantly affected in thiacloprid-treated [START]bees[END] compared to control. The metabolites with high level of abundance enriched to wide range pathways associated with oxidative stress and detoxification suggest that the [START]honey bees[END] have activated their detoxification system to resistant toxicity of thiacloprid. While, the reduction of serotonin suggest thiacloprid may hinder the brain activity implicated in learning and behaviour development. Our study expand the understanding of the molecular basis of the complex interactions between neonicotinoids and [START]honey bees[END].
",30497706
0,7460,"Vasculature of the hive: heat dissipation in the [START]honey bee[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]) hive.
Eusocial insects are distinguished by their elaborate cooperative behavior and are sometimes defined as superorganisms. As a nest-bound superorganism, individuals work together to maintain favorable nest conditions. Residing in temperate environments, [START]honey bees[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]) work especially hard to maintain brood comb temperature between 32 and 36  C. Heat shielding is a social homeostatic mechanism employed to combat local heat stress. Workers press the ventral side of their bodies against heated surfaces, absorb heat, and thus protect developing brood. While the absorption of heat has been characterized, the dissipation of absorbed heat has not. Our study characterized both how effectively worker [START]bees[END] absorb heat during heat shielding, and where worker [START]bees[END] dissipate absorbed heat. Hives were experimentally heated for 15 min during which internal temperatures and heat shielder counts were taken. Once the heat source was removed, hives were photographed with a thermal imaging camera for 15 min. Thermal images allowed for spatial tracking of heat flow as cooling occurred. Data indicate that [START]honey bee[END] workers collectively minimize heat gain during heating and accelerate heat loss during cooling. Thermal images show that heated areas temporarily increase in size in all directions and then rapidly decrease to safe levels (<37  C). As such, heat shielding is reminiscent of bioheat removal via the cardiovascular system of mammals.
",24760416
0,7460,"Characterization of Apis mellifera Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Lactic Acid Bacteria for [START]Honeybee[END] Protection-A Review.
Numerous [START]honeybee[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]) products, such as honey, propolis, and bee venom, are used in traditional medicine to prevent illness and promote healing. Therefore, this insect has a huge impact on humans' way of life and the environment. While the population of [START]A. mellifera[END] is large, there is concern that widespread commercialization of beekeeping, combined with environmental pollution and the action of bee pathogens, has caused significant problems for the health of [START]honeybee[END] populations. One of the strategies to preserve the welfare of [START]honeybees[END] is to better understand and protect their natural microbiota. This paper provides a unique overview of the latest research on the features and functioning of [START]A. mellifera[END]. [START]Honeybee[END] microbiome analysis focuses on both the function and numerous factors affecting it. In addition, we present the characteristics of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as an important part of the gut community and their special beneficial activities for [START]honeybee[END] health. The idea of probiotics for [START]honeybees[END] as a promising tool to improve their health is widely discussed. Knowledge of the natural gut microbiota provides an opportunity to create a broad strategy for [START]honeybee[END] vitality, including the development of modern probiotic preparations to use instead of conventional antibiotics, environmentally friendly biocides, and biological control agents.
",33809924
0,7460,"Glandular sources of pheromones used to control host workers (Apis mellifera scutellata) by socially parasitic workers of Apis mellifera capensis.
Pheromonal control by the [START]honey bee[END] queen is achieved through the use of secretions from diverse glandular sources, but the use of pheromones from a variety of glandular sources by reproductively dominant workers, has not previously been explored. Using the social parasite, Apis mellifera capensis clonal worker we studied the diversity of glandular sources used for pheromonal control of reproductively subordinate A. m. scutellata workers. To determine whether pheromones from different glandular sources are used by reproductively active workers to achieve dominance and evaluate the degree of pheromonal competition between workers of the two sub-species, we housed groups of workers of the two sub-species together in cages and analysed mandibular and tergal gland secretions as well as, ovarian activation status of each worker after 21days. The results showed that A. m. capensis invasive clones used both mandibular and tergal gland secretions to achieve reproductive dominance and suppress ovarian activation in their A. m. scutellata host workers. The reproductively dominant workers (false queens) produced more queen-like pheromones and inhibited ovarian activation in subordinate A. m. scutellata workers. These results show that tergal gland pheromones working in synergy with pheromones from other glands allow individual workers (false queens) to establish reproductive dominance within these social groups and to act in a manner similar to that of queens. Thus suggesting that, the evolution of reproductively dominant individuals (queens or false queens) and subordinate individuals (workers) in social insects like the [START]honey bee[END] is the result of a complex interplay of pheromonal signals from different exocrine glands.
",28889990
0,7460,"Heritability estimates of the novel trait 'suppressed in ovo virus infection' in [START]honey bees[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]).
[START]Honey bees[END] are under pressure due to abnormal high colony death rates, especially during the winter. The infestation by the Varroa destructor mite and the viruses that this ectoparasite transmits are generally considered as the [START]bees[END]' most important biological threats. Almost all efforts to remedy this dual infection have so far focused on the control of the Varroa mite alone and not on the viruses it transmits. In the present study, the sanitary control of breeding queens was conducted on eggs taken from drone brood for 4 consecutive years (2015-2018). The screening was performed on the sideline of an ongoing breeding program, which allowed us to estimate the heritabilities of the virus status of the eggs. We used the term 'suppressed in ovo virus infection' (SOV) for this novel trait and found moderate heritabilities for the presence of several viruses simultaneously and for the presence of single viral species. Colonies that expressed the SOV trait seemed to be more resilient to virus infections as a whole with fewer and less severe Deformed wing virus infections in most developmental stages, especially in the male caste. The implementation of this novel trait into breeding programs is recommended.
",32868870
0,7460,"Mitigating effects of pollen during paraquat exposure on gene expression and pathogen prevalence in [START]Apis mellifera[END] L.
[START]Honey bee[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END] L.) populations have been experiencing notable mortality in Europe and North America. No single cause has been identified for these dramatic losses, but rather multiple interacting factors are likely responsible (such as pesticides, malnutrition, habitat loss, and pathogens). Paraquat is one of the most widely used non-selective herbicides, especially in developing countries. This herbicide is considered slightly toxic to [START]honey bees[END], despite being reported as a highly effective inducer of oxidative stress in a wide range of living systems. Here, we test the effects of paraquat on the expression of detoxification and antioxidant-related genes, as well as on the dynamics of pathogen titers. Moreover, we tested the effects of pollen as mitigating factor to paraquat exposure. Our results show significant changes in the expression of several antioxidant-related and detoxification-related genes in the presence of paraquat, as well as an increase of pathogens titers. Finally, we demonstrate a mitigating effect of pollen through the up-regulation of specific genes and improvement of survival of [START]bees[END] exposed to paraquat. The presence of pollen in the diet was also correlated with a reduced prevalence of Nosema and viral pathogens. We discuss the importance of [START]honey bees[END]' nutrition, especially the availability of pollen, on colony losses chronically reported in the USA and Europe.
",29067534
0,7460,"[The morphological basis of conditioned reflex in the [START]honeybee[END] [START]Apis mellifera[END] L].
A review. Works related to research into the neuroanatomical basis of associative learning in the [START]honeybee[END] (proboscis extension reflex) are summarized. Data on the brain organization of the [START]honeybee[END] are presented. The parallel neural pathways of conditioned and unconditioned stimuli are shown. Contribution of different brain structures and identified neurons (VUMmx1, PE1) in the formation of the proboscis extension reflex are discussed.
",23530444
0,7460,"Interaction of field realistic doses of clothianidin and Varroa destructor parasitism on adult [START]honey bee[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END] L.) health and neural gene expression, and antagonistic effects on differentially expressed genes.
While many studies have examined the effects of neonicotinoid insecticides and the parasitic mite Varroa destructor on [START]honey bees[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]), more information on the combined effects of such stressors on gene expression, including neural related genes, and their impact on biological pathways is needed. This study analyzed the effects of field realistic concentrations of the neonicotinoid clothianidin on adult [START]bees[END] infested and not infested with V. destructor over 21 consecutive days and then determined bee survivorship, weight, deformed wing virus (DWV) levels and gene expression. V. destructor parasitism with or without clothianidin exposure was significantly associated with decreased survivorship, weight loss and higher DWV levels, while clothianidin exposure was only associated with higher levels of DWV. Expression analysis of the neural genes AmNlg-1, BlCh and AmAChE-2 showed that V. destructor caused a significant down-regulation of all of them, whereas clothianidin caused a significant down-regulation of only AmNrx-1 and BlCh. An interaction was only detected for AmNrx-1 expression. RNAseq analysis showed that clothianidin exposure resulted in 6.5 times more up-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) than V. destructor alone and 123 times more than clothianidin combined with V. destructor. Similar results were obtained with down-regulated DEGs, except for a higher number of DEGs shared between V. destructor and the combined stressors. KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) biological pathway analysis of the DEGs showed that the stressor linked to the highest number of KEGG pathways was clothianidin, followed by V. destructor, and then considerably fewer number of KEGG pathways with the combined stressors. The reduced numbers of DEGs and KEGG pathways associated with the DEGs for the combined stressors compared to the stressors alone indicates that the interaction of the stressors is not additive or synergistic, but antagonistic. The possible implications of the antagonistic effect on the number of DEGs are discussed.
",32078633
0,7460,"[START]Honey Bees[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]) Show a Preference for the Consumption of Ethanol.
BACKGROUND: Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are significant global issues. [START]Honey bees[END] are excellent models for learning and other complex behaviors; furthermore, they share many behavioral responses to ethanol (EtOH) with humans and animal models. We develop a 2-feeder choice assay to determine whether [START]honey bees[END] will self-administer and preferentially consume solutions containing EtOH. METHODS: Gustatory responsiveness to EtOH is determined using the proboscis extension reflex and consumption assays. A 2-feeder choice assay is used to examine preference for the consumption of EtOH. Survival assays assess the metabolic and toxic effects of EtOH consumption. RESULTS: [START]Honey bees[END] find the taste of EtOH to be aversive when in water, but addition of sucrose masks the aversive taste. Even though the taste of EtOH is not appetitive, [START]honey bees[END] preferentially consume sucrose solutions containing 1.25 to 2.5% EtOH in a dose-dependent manner. Based on survival assays, [START]honey bees[END] may not be able to derive caloric value from EtOH, and EtOH concentrations of 2.5% or higher lead to significant increases in mortality. CONCLUSIONS: [START]Honey bees[END] will self-administer EtOH and show a preference for consuming solutions containing EtOH. [START]Bees[END] may not be able to efficiently utilize EtOH as an energy source, but EtOH-dependent increases in mortality complicate separating the effects of caloric value and toxicity.
",30347437
0,7460,"[START]Honey bee[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]) sociability and nestmate affiliation are dependent on the social environment experienced post-eclosion.
Underpinning the formation of a social group is the motivation of individuals to aggregate and interact with conspecifics, termed sociability. Here, we developed an assay, inspired by vertebrate approaches to evaluate social behaviours, to simultaneously examine the development of [START]honey bee[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]) sociability and nestmate affiliation. Focal [START]bees[END] were placed in a testing chamber which was separated from groups of nestmates and conspecific non-nestmates by single-layer mesh screens. Assessing how much time [START]bees[END] spent contacting the two mesh screens allowed us to quantify simultaneously how much [START]bees[END] sought proximity and interaction with other [START]bees[END] and their preference for nestmates over non-nestmates. Both sociability and nestmate affiliation could be detected soon after emergence as an adult. Isolation early in adult life impaired [START]honey bee[END] sociability but there was no evidence for a critical period for the development of the trait, as isolated [START]bees[END] exposed to their hive for 24 h when as old as 6 days still recovered high levels of sociability. Our data show that, even for advanced social insects, sociability is a developmental phenomenon and experience dependent.
",29361601
0,7460,"Transcriptomic analysis of the [START]honey bee[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]) queen spermathecae reveals genes that may be involved in sperm storage after mating.
[START]Honey bee[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]) queens have a remarkable organ, the spermatheca, which successfully stores sperm for years after a virgin queen mates. This study uniquely characterized and quantified the transcriptomes of the spermathecae from mated and virgin [START]honey bee[END] queens via RNA sequencing to identify differences in mRNA levels based on a queen's mating status. The transcriptome of drone semen was analyzed for comparison. Samples from three individual [START]bees[END] were independently analyzed for mated queen spermathecae and virgin queen spermathecae, and three pools of semen from ten drones each were collected from three separate colonies. In total, the expression of 11,233 genes was identified in mated queen spermathecae, 10,521 in virgin queen spermathecae, and 10,407 in drone semen. Using a cutoff log2 fold-change value of 2.0, we identified 212 differentially expressed genes between mated and virgin spermathecal queen tissues: 129 (1.4% of total) were up-regulated and 83 (0.9% of total) were down-regulated in mated queen spermathecae. Three genes in mated queen spermathecae, three genes in virgin queen spermathecae and four genes in drone semen that were more highly expressed in those tissues from the RNA sequencing data were further validated by real time quantitative PCR. Among others, expression of Kielin/chordin-like and Trehalase mRNAs was highest in the spermathecae of mated queens compared to virgin queen spermathecae and drone semen. Expression of the mRNA encoding Alpha glucosidase 2 was higher in the spermathecae of virgin queens. Finally, expression of Facilitated trehalose transporter 1 mRNA was greatest in drone semen. This is the first characterization of gene expression in the spermathecae of [START]honey bee[END] queens revealing the alterations in mRNA levels within them after mating. Future studies will extend to other reproductive tissues with the purpose of relating levels of specific mRNAs to the functional competence of [START]honey bee[END] queens and the colonies they head.
",33417615
0,7460,"Possible interference of Bacillus thuringiensis in the survival and behavior of Africanized [START]honey bees[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]).
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), an entomopathogenic bacterium, has been used as bioinsecticides for insect pest control worldwide. Consequently, the objective of this work was to evaluate the possible effects of commercial formulations of Bt products, Dipel and Xentari, on the survival and behavior of Africanized [START]honey bees[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]). Bioassays were performed on foragers and newly emerged (24-h-old) [START]bees[END] that received the products mixed in the food. Their survival and behavior were evaluated through the vertical displacement tests and the walk test, analyzed using software Bee-Move. Then, histological analysis of the mesenterium was performed. As control treatment was used sterile water. The [START]honey bees[END]' survival was evaluated for between 1 and 144 h. No interference of B. thuringiensis, Dipel and Xentari, in the survival of Africanized [START]honey bees[END] were found. Only Xentari interfered with vertical displacement behavior of newly emerged (24-h-old) [START]bees[END]. Both the products tested were selective and safe for [START]A. mellifera[END].
",33568730
0,7460,"Resolution and sensitivity of the eyes of the Asian [START]honeybees[END] Apis florea, Apis cerana and Apis dorsata.
[START]Bees[END] of the genus Apis are important foragers of nectar and pollen resources. Although the European [START]honeybee[END], [START]Apis mellifera[END], has been well studied with respect to its sensory abilities, learning behaviour and role as pollinators, much less is known about the other Apis species. We studied the anatomical spatial resolution and absolute sensitivity of the eyes of three sympatric species of Asian [START]honeybees[END], Apis cerana, Apis florea and Apis dorsata and compared them with the eyes of [START]A. mellifera[END]. Of these four species, the giant honeybee A. dorsata (which forages during moonlit nights) has the lowest spatial resolution and the most sensitive eyes, followed by [START]A. mellifera[END], A. cerana and the dwarf honeybee, A. florea (which has the smallest acceptance angles and the least sensitive eyes). Moreover, unlike the strictly diurnal A. cerana and A. florea, A. dorsata possess large ocelli, a feature that it shares with all dim-light [START]bees[END]. However, the eyes of the facultatively nocturnal A. dorsata are much less sensitive than those of known obligately nocturnal [START]bees[END] such as Megalopta genalis in Panama and Xylocopa tranquebarica in India. The differences in sensitivity between the eyes of A. dorsata and other strictly diurnal Apis species cannot alone explain why the former is able to fly, orient and forage at half-moon light levels. We assume that additional neuronal adaptations, as has been proposed for [START]A. mellifera[END], M. genalis and X. tranquebarica, might exist in A. dorsata.
",19617438
0,7460,"First  report of sacbrood virus in [START]honey bee[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]) colonies in  Brazil.
Sacbrood disease, an affliction of [START]honey  bees[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]) characterized by brood that fails to pupate and  subsequently dies, is an important threat to [START]honey bee[END] health. The disease is  caused by the sacbrood virus (SBV), a positive-, single-stranded RNA virus in  the order Picornavirales. Because of the economic importance of [START]honey bees[END] for  both pollination and honey production, it is vital to understand and monitor  the spread of viruses such as SBV. This virus has been found in many places  across the globe, including recently in some South American countries, and it  is likely that it will continue to spread. We performed a preliminary study to  search for SBV in two apiaries of Africanized [START]honey bees[END] in the State of Sao  Paulo, Brazil, using RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing and found the first evidence  of SBV in [START]honey bee[END] colonies in Brazil. The virus was detected in larvae,  foraging and nurse [START]bees[END] from two colonies, one of which had symptoms of sacbrood  disease, at the beginning of the winter season in June 2011. No SBV was found  in samples from nine other nearby colonies.
",23079825
0,7460,"The absolute configurations of hydroxy fatty acids from the royal jelly of [START]honeybees[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]).
9-Hydroxy-2E-decenoic acid (9-HDA) is a precursor of the queen-produced substance, 9-oxo-2E-decenoic acid (9-ODA), which has various important functions and roles for caste maintenance in [START]honeybee[END] colonies ([START]Apis mellifera[END]). 9-HDA in royal jelly is considered to be a metabolite of 9-ODA produced by worker [START]bees[END], and it is fed back to the queen who then transforms it into 9-ODA. Recently we found that 9-HDA is present in royal jelly as a mixture of optical isomers (R:S, 2:1). The finding leads us to suspect that chiral fatty acids in royal jelly are precursors of semiochemicals. Rather than looking for semiochemicals in the mandibular glands of the queen bee, this study involves the search for precursors of pheromones from large quantities of royal jelly. Seven chiral hydroxy fatty acids, 9,10-dihydroxy-2E-decenoic, 4,10-dihydroxy-2E-decenoic, 4,9-dihydroxy-2E-decenoic, 3-hydroxydecanoic, 3,9-dihydroxydecanoic, 3,11-dihydroxydodecanoic, and 3,10-dihydroxydecanoic acids were isolated. The absolute configurations of these acids were determined using the modified Mosher's method, and it was revealed that, similar to 9-HDA, five acids are present in royal jelly as mixtures of optical isomers.
",21082360
0,7460,"[Nosema ceranae (Eukaryota: Fungi: Microsporea)--a new parasite of [START]western honey bee[END] [START]Apis mellifera[END] L].
Nosema ceranae was discovered in Apis cerana, Eastern honeybee first. Until recently A. cerana has been considered the only host to this parasite. A few years ago N. ceranae was recorded in [START]honey bee[END] [START]Apis mellifera[END]. It appeared that N. ceranae is more pathogenic for A. mellifera than Nosema apis. This parasite can cause significant losses in bee colonies. [START]Bees[END] die without symptoms observed in nosemosis caused by N. apis such as diarrhea.
",18441873
0,7460,"A non-policing [START]honey bee[END] colony (Apis mellifera capensis).
In the Cape [START]honey bee[END] Apis mellifera capensis, workers lay female eggs without mating by thelytokous parthenogenesis. As a result, workers are as related to worker-laid eggs as they are to queen-laid eggs and therefore worker policing is expected to be lower, or even absent. This was tested by transferring worker- and queen-laid eggs into three queenright A. m. capensis discriminator colonies and monitoring their removal. Our results show that worker policing is variable in A. m. capensis and that in one colony worker-laid eggs were not removed. This is the first report of a non-policing queenright [START]honey bee[END] colony. DNA microsatellite and morphometric analysis suggests that the racial composition of the three discriminator colonies was different. The variation in policing rates could be explained by differences in degrees of hybridisation between A. m. capensis and A. m. scutellata, although a larger survey is needed to confirm this.
",12384725
0,7460,"Recent advances in population and quantitative genomics of [START]honey bees[END].
The increase in the availability of individual [START]Apis mellifera[END] genomes has resulted in significant progress toward understanding the evolution and adaptation of the [START]honey bee[END]. These efforts have identified new subspecies, evolutionary lineages, and a significant number of genes involved with adaptations and colony-level quantitative traits. Many studies have also developed genetic assays that are being used to monitor the movement and admixture of [START]honey bee[END] populations. These resources are valuable for conservation and breeding programs that seek to improve the economic value of colonies or preserve locally adapted populations and subspecies. This review provides a brief discussion on how population and quantitative genomic studies has improved our understanding of the [START]honey bee[END].
",31109680
0,7460,"Ecology of Varroa destructor, the Major Ectoparasite of the [START]Western Honey Bee[END], [START]Apis mellifera[END].
Varroa destructor is the most important ectoparasite of [START]Apis mellifera[END]. This review addresses the interactions between the varroa mite, its environment, and the [START]honey bee[END] host, mediated by an impressive number of cues and signals, including semiochemicals regulating crucial steps of the mite's life cycle. Although mechanical stimuli, temperature, and humidity play an important role, chemical communication is the most important channel. Kairomones are used at all stages of the mite's life cycle, and the exploitation of [START]bees[END]' brood pheromones is particularly significant given these compounds function as primer and releaser signals that regulate the social organization of the [START]honey bee[END] colony. V. destructor is a major problem for apiculture, and the search for novel control methods is an essential task for researchers. A detailed study of the ecological interactions of V. destructor is a prerequisite for creating strategies to sustainably manage the parasite.
",26667378
0,7460,"Social immunity in [START]honeybees[END] ([START]Apis mellifera[END]): transcriptome analysis of varroa-hygienic behaviour.
[START]Honeybees[END] have evolved a social immunity consisting of the cooperation of individuals to decrease disease in the hive. We identified a set of genes involved in this social immunity by analysing the brain transcriptome of highly varroa-hygienic [START]bees[END], who efficiently detect and remove brood infected with the Varroa destructor mite. The function of these candidate genes does not seem to support a higher olfactory sensitivity in hygienic [START]bees[END], as previously hypothesized. However, comparing their genomic profile with those from other behaviours suggests a link with brood care and the highly varroa-hygienic Africanized honeybees. These results represent a first step toward the identification of genes involved in social immunity and thus provide first insights into the evolution of social immunity.
",21435061
0,7425,"Development of [START]Nasonia vitripennis[END] (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) at Constant Temperatures in China.
[START]Nasonia vitripennis[END] (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is a common ectoparasitoid that attacks the puparia of fly species of forensic importance, including blow flies, flesh flies, and house flies. The developmental time of [START]N. vitripennis[END] can be added to the host development time, providing the potential for an extended minimum postmortem interval timeframe in cases where traditional dipteran larval forensic timeline indicators have completed their development. In this study, we used Boettcherisca peregrina Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) as the host for [START]N. vitripennis[END] and studied the development of [START]N. vitripennis[END] at seven constant temperatures between 16 and 34 C. The developmental process was divided into 12 periods, and we measured developmental time, changes in larval body length, and thermal requirements for development, including developmental thresholds and thermal constant. Using these data, we created an isomorphen diagram and thermal summation model of [START]N. vitripennis[END]. The total developmental duration of parasitoids from egg to adult emergence at 16, 19, 22, 25, 28 and 31 C were 953.3 +- 20.0, 698.0 +- 7.7, 508.7 +- 13.6, 354.7 +- 4.6, 272.0 +- 13.9, and 232.0 +- 11.3 h, respectively. [START]Nasonia vitripennis[END] did not emerge at 34 C. The developmental threshold temperature of [START]N. vitripennis[END] was 11.52 C, and the thermal summation constant was 4768.8 degree hours.
",30383266
0,7425,"The biological significance of lipogenesis in [START]Nasonia vitripennis[END].
Parasitic wasps have long been thought to be unable to synthesize fatty acids de novo, but recent 13C-labelling studies have challenged this view. It remained unclear, however, whether the reported biosynthesis rates are of biological relevance. Here, we show in [START]Nasonia vitripennis[END] that ageing females with partly depleted lipid reserves produce biologically relevant amounts of fatty acids de novo. Females with varying oviposition history (0-48 h) prior to feeding 20% 13C-labelled glucose solution showed 13C-incorporation rates of (mean +- SEM) 30 +- 2%, 50 +- 2%, 49 +- 3% and 21 +- 2% in palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acid, respectively. The absolute amounts of fatty acids synthesized de novo across treatments corresponded to 28 +- 3 egg lipid equivalents. Females incorporated de novo synthesized fatty acids into their eggs, and glucose-fed females laid more eggs than water-fed control females. The number of eggs laid prior to glucose feeding did not correlate with the degree of lipogenesis, but the amounts of de novo synthesized fatty acids correlated with constitutive (not synthesized de novo) fatty acids. Hence, glucose feeding has a twofold effect on the fatty acid status of [START]N. vitripennis[END] females by decelerating the catabolism of existing fat reserves and partially replenishing ebbing fat reserves by lipogenesis.
",35414234
0,7425,"Germline mutagenesis of Nasonia vitripennis through ovarian delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein.
CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing is a powerful technology to study the genetics of rising model organisms, such as the [START]jewel wasp[END] [START]Nasonia vitripennis[END]. However, current methods involving embryonic microinjection of CRISPR reagents are challenging. Delivery of Cas9 ribonucleoprotein into female ovaries is an alternative that has only been explored in a small handful of insects, such as mosquitoes, whiteflies and beetles. Here, we developed a simple protocol for germline gene editing by injecting Cas9 ribonucleoprotein in adult [START]N. vitripennis[END] females using either ReMOT control (Receptor-Mediated Ovary Transduction of Cargo) or BAPC (Branched Amphiphilic Peptide Capsules) as ovary delivery methods. For ReMOT Control we used the Drosophila melanogaster-derived peptide 'P2C' fused to EGFP to visualize the ovary delivery, and fused to Cas9 protein for gene editing of the cinnabar gene using saponin as an endosomal escape reagent. For BAPC we optimized the concentrations of protein, sgRNA and the transfection reagent. We demonstrate delivery of protein cargo such as EGFP and Cas9 into developing oocytes via P2C peptide and BAPC. Additionally, somatic and germline gene editing were demonstrated. This approach will greatly facilitate CRISPR-applied genetic manipulation in this and other rising model organisms.
",32715554
0,7425,"Bacterial supergroup-specific ""cost"" of Wolbachia infections in [START]Nasonia vitripennis[END].
The maternally inherited endosymbiont, Wolbachia, is known to alter the reproductive biology of its arthropod hosts for its own benefit and can induce both positive and negative fitness effects in many hosts. Here, we describe the effects of the maintenance of two distinct Wolbachia infections, one each from supergroups A and B, on the parasitoid host Nasonia vitripennis. We compare the effect of Wolbachia infections on various traits between the uninfected, single A-infected, single B-infected, and double-infected lines with their cured versions. Contrary to some previous reports, our results suggest that there is a significant cost associated with the maintenance of Wolbachia infections where traits such as family size, fecundity, longevity, and rates of male copulation are compromised in Wolbachia-infected lines. The double Wolbachia infection has the most detrimental impact on the host as compared to single infections. Moreover, there is a supergroup-specific negative impact on these wasps as the supergroup B infection elicits the most pronounced negative effects. These negative effects can be attributed to a higher Wolbachia titer seen in the double and the single supergroup B infection lines when compared to supergroup A. Our findings raise important questions on the mechanism of survival and maintenance of these reproductive parasites in arthropod hosts.
",36172295
0,7425,"The expanding genetic toolbox of the wasp [START]Nasonia vitripennis[END] and its relatives.
The parasitoid wasp Nasonia represents a genus of four species that is emerging as a powerful genetic model system that has made and will continue to make important contributions to our understanding of evolutionary biology, development, ecology, and behavior. Particularly powerful are the haplodiploid genetics of the system, which allow some of the advantages of microbial genetics to be applied to a complex multicellular eukaryote. In addition, fertile, viable hybrids can be made among the four species in the genus. This makes [START]Nasonia[END] exceptionally well suited for evolutionary genetics approaches, especially when combined with its haploid genetics and tractability in the laboratory. These features are complemented by an expanding array of genomic, transcriptomic, and functional resources, the application of which has already made [START]Nasonia[END] an important model system in such emerging fields as evolutionary developmental biology and microbiomics. This article describes the genetic and genomic advantages of [START]Nasonia[END] wasps and the resources available for their genetic analysis. 
",25855650
0,7425,"Silencing Doublesex expression triggers three-level pheromonal feminization in Nasonia vitripennis males.
Doublesex (Dsx) has a conserved function in controlling sexual morphological differences in insects, but our knowledge of its role in regulating sexual behaviour is primarily limited to Drosophila. Here, we show with the parasitoid wasp [START]Nasonia vitripennis[END] that males whose Dsx gene had been silenced (NvDsx-i) underwent a three-level pheromonal feminization: (i) NvDsx-i males were no longer able to attract females from a distance, owing to drastically reduced titres of the long-range sex pheromone; (ii) NvDsx-i males were courted by wild-type males as though they were females, which correlated with a lower abundance of alkenes in their cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles. Supplementation with realistic amounts of synthetic (Z)-9-hentriacontene (Z9C31), the most significantly reduced alkene in NvDsx-i males, to NvDsx-i males interrupted courtship by wild-type conspecific males. Supplementation of female CHC profiles with Z9C31 reduced courtship and mating attempts by wild-type males. These results prove that Z9C31 is crucial for sex discrimination in [START]N. vitripennis[END]; and (iii) Nvdsx-i males were hampered in eliciting female receptivity and thus experienced severely reduced mating success, suggesting that they are unable to produce the to-date unidentified oral aphrodisiac pheromone reported in [START]N. vitripennis[END] males. We conclude that Dsx is a multi-level key regulator of pheromone-mediated sexual communication in [START]N. vitripennis[END].
",35078369
0,7425,"Latitudinal Variation in Circadian Rhythmicity in [START]Nasonia vitripennis[END].
Many physiological processes of living organisms show circadian rhythms, governed by an endogenous clock. This clock has a genetic basis and is entrained by external cues, such as light and temperature. Other physiological processes exhibit seasonal rhythms, that are also responsive to light and temperature. We previously reported a natural latitudinal cline of photoperiodic diapause induction in the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis in Europe and a correlated haplotype frequency for the circadian clock gene period (per). To evaluate if this correlation is reflected in circadian behaviour, we investigated the circadian locomotor activity of seven populations from the cline. We found that the proportion of rhythmic males was higher than females in constant darkness, and that mating decreased rhythmicity of both sexes. Only for virgin females, the free running period (tau) increased weakly with latitude. Wasps from the most southern locality had an overall shorter free running rhythm and earlier onset, peak, and offset of activity during the 24 h period, than wasps from the northernmost locality. We evaluated this variation in rhythmicity as a function of period haplotype frequencies in the populations and discussed its functional significance in the context of local adaptation.
",31731741
0,7425,"Sex determination in the haplodiploid wasp Nasonia vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea): a critical consideration of models and evidence.
Sex determining mechanisms are highly diverse. Like all Hymenoptera, the parasitic wasp [START]Nasonia vitripennis[END] reproduces by haplodiploidy: males are haploid and females are diploid. Sex in [START]Nasonia[END] is not determined by complementary alleles at sex loci. Evidence for several alternative models is considered. Recent studies on a polyploid and a gynandromorphic mutant strain point to a maternal product that is balanced against the number of chromosomal complements in the zygote and a parent-specific (imprinting) effect. Research is now focused on the molecular details of sex determination in [START]Nasonia[END].
",17292644
0,7425,"Venom proteins of the parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis: recent discovery of an untapped pharmacopee.
Adult females of [START]Nasonia vitripennis[END] inject a venomous mixture into its host flies prior to oviposition. Recently, the entire genome of this ectoparasitoid wasp was sequenced, enabling the identification of 79 venom proteins. The next challenge will be to unravel their specific functions, but based on homolog studies, some predictions already can be made. Parasitization has an enormous impact on hosts physiology of which five major effects are discussed in this review: the impact on immune responses, induction of developmental arrest, increases in lipid levels, apoptosis and nutrient releases. The value of deciphering this venom is also discussed.
",22069597
0,7425,"Males of the parasitoid wasp, [START]Nasonia vitripennis[END], can identify which fly hosts contain females.
The reproductive success of a male is limited by the number of females it can mate with. Thus, males deploy elaborate strategies to maximize access to females. In [START]Nasonia[END], which are parasitoids of cyclorrhaphous flies, such reproductive strategies are thought to be restricted to competition among males for access to females in the natal patch. This study investigates whether additional strategies are present, especially the capability to identify which fly hosts contain adult females inside. Behavioural assays revealed that only one out of the four species, [START]N. vitripennis[END], can distinguish which hosts specifically have adult female wasps, indicating a species-specific reproductive strategy. Results of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses and behavioural data suggest that female-signature cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are used as chemical cues, possibly emanating from within the host puparium. Further assays indicated that [START]N. vitripennis[END] males can also detect differences in the intensities of female-signature CHCs, giving them the capability to seek out hosts with maximum number of females. This study uncovers a previously unknown reproductive strategy in one of the most widely studied parasitoid wasps.
",35116169
0,64459,"A thioredoxin peroxidase protects [START]Pieris rapae[END] from oxidative stress induced by chlorantraniliprole exposure.
Chlorantraniliprole (CAP) is an insecticide widely used to control the small white butterfly (SWB), [START]Pieris rapae[END]. Exposure to CAP can cause oxidative injury in SWB; however, it is unclear if antioxidant enzymes are involved in the defense process. In this study, a thioredoxin peroxidase (PrTPX1) gene was identified from SWB by using a homology search method. The gene encoded a 195 amino-acid PrTPX1 protein. Sequence characteristics and phylogenetic analysis indicated that PrTPX1 was a typical ""2-Cys"" TPX, and the PrTPX1 gene consisted of four exons and three introns. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated that the messenger RNA levels of PrTPX1 were highest in third-, fourth- and fifth-instar larval stages and in the larval midgut. Treatment with sublethal doses (LD20 and LD50 ) of CAP for 6, 12, 18, and 24 h resulted in increased H2 O2 concentration in SWB larvae, indicating insecticide-induced oxidative stress. The transcriptional levels of PrTPX1 were significantly enhanced in larvae exposed to CAP. Recombinant PrTPX1 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli. Enzymatic assay revealed that the protein displayed antioxidant activity and was able to protect against oxidative challenge. These results indicated that PrTPX1 plays an important role in oxidative stress responses and may contribute to the CAP tolerance in SWB.
",36050844
0,64459,"Mapping and identification of potential target genes from short-RNA seq for the control of [START]Pieris rapae[END] larvae.
[START]Pieris rapae[END] is a serious pest of brassicas worldwide. We performed de novo assembly of [START]P. rapae[END] transcriptome by next-generation sequencing and assembled approximately 65,727,422 clean paired-end reads into 32,118 unigenes, of which 13,585 were mapped to 255 pathways in the KEGG database. A total of 6173 novel transcripts were identified from reads directly mapped to [START]P. rapae[END] genome. Additionally, 1490 SSRs, 301,377 SNPs, and 29,284 InDels were identified as potential molecular markers to explore polymorphism within [START]P. rapae[END] populations. We screened and mapped 36 transcripts related to OBP, CSP, SNMP, PBAN, and OR. We analyzed the expression profiles of 7 selected genes involved in pheromone transport and degradation by quantitative real-time PCR; these genes are sex-specific and differentially expressed in the developmental stages. Overall, the comprehensive transcriptome resources described in this study could help understand and identify molecular targets particularly reproduction-related genes for developing effective [START]P. rapae[END] management tools.
",31450005
0,64459,"Antifeedant and oviposition-deterring activity of total ginsenosides against [START]Pieris rapae[END].
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antifeedant and oviposition-deterring activity of total ginsenosides against [START]P. rapae[END]. Total ginsenosides exhibited increased antifeedant effects against [START]P. rapae[END]. The highest nonselective and selective antifeedant activity were observed at 2.0% concentration where ginsenosides caused antifeedant percentages of 86.09 and 88.90, respectively. The total ginsenosides showed significantly oviposition-deterring activity of 77.78% against oviposition of [START]P. rapae[END] at 1.0% concentration. Total ginsenosides had antifeeding activity against [START]P. rapae[END] and inhibitory effects on its oviposition. Ginsenosides could be used as an agent to prepare botanical new pesticidal formulations.
",29551916
0,64459,"The Genome of Pieris rapae Granulovirus.
Pieris rapae granulovirus (PrGV) can infect and kill larvae of [START]Pieris rapae[END], a worldwide and important pest of mustard family crops. The PrGV genome consists of 108,592 bp, is AT rich (66.8%), and is most structurally and organizationally similar to the Choristoneura occidentalis granulovirus genome. Of the predicted 120 open reading frames (ORFs), 32 genes specifically occurred in GVs, including four genes unique to PrGV (Pr9, Pr32, Pr53, and Pr117).
",22879615
0,64459,"A comparison of the granulosis viruses from Pieris brassicae and [START]Pieris rapae[END].
The granulosis viruses of Pieris brassicae and [START]P. rapae[END] have been compared biochemically and biologically. No differences were found between virus capsules when examined by immunodiffusion, ELISA, or SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The virus particles were identical by immunodiffusion but distinguishable by ELISA. Comparison of virus particle polypeptides on SDS-polyacrylamide gels indicated small differences in molecular weight in three of the polypeptides of the virus envelope but no difference between the nucleocapsids. There were several differences between the DNA fragments produced by digestion with EcoRI, BamH1, and HindIII restriction endonucleases from which the homology between the two DNAs was calculated to be 97.7%. The small structural difference between the two viruses is associated with a very large difference in their virulence for P. brassicae; the LD50 with [START]P. rapae[END] GV being at least 1000 times greater than with P. brassicae GV. [START]P. rapae[END] was much more susceptible to either virus than P. brassicae and in this case the LD50 values were not significantly different for the two viruses.
",18635108
0,64459,"Characterisation of a copper/zinc superoxide dismutase from [START]Pieris rapae[END] and its role in protecting against oxidative stress induced by chlorantraniliprole.
Insecticide exposure typically leads to abnormally high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative damage in insects. Superoxide dismutases (SODs) are potent antioxidant enzymes for ROS scavenging that are essential to protect insects against insecticide-induced oxidative injury. The small white butterfly, [START]Pieris rapae[END], is an economically important lepidopteran pest of cruciferous crops, and the anthranilic diamide insecticide chlorantraniliprole is widely used to control this organism. However, whether chlorantraniliprole causes oxidative stress, and whether SODs are involved in ROS scavenging, remains unclear in [START]P. rapae[END]. In this study, an intracellular copper/zinc SOD (designated PrSOD1) gene was identified and characterised in [START]P. rapae[END]. The gene consists of four exons and three introns, and the PrSOD1 protein encoded by the gene has typical highly conserved features of CuZnSODs, including two signature motifs and seven Cu/Zn-interacting residues. Transcription of PrSOD1 was highest in the larval fat body and at the fifth-instar larval stage. Recombinant PrSOD1 protein expressed in Escherichia coli displayed antioxidant activity and high thermal and pH stability, confirming that PrSOD1 encodes a functional enzyme. Exposure to three sublethal doses of chlorantraniliprole for 6, 12 or 24 h resulted in significantly increased malondialdehyde concentration in [START]P. rapae[END] larvae, indicating insecticide-induced oxidative stress. Furthermore, both PrSOD1 transcription levels and CuZnSOD activity were quickly (6 and 12 h, respectively) upregulated in larvae subjected to chlorantraniliprole, strongly suggesting that PrSOD1 plays an important role in protecting against oxidative damage and possibly chlorantraniliprole tolerance in [START]P. rapae[END].
",33838718
0,64459,"Mechanism of the different metabolome responses between Plutella xylostella and [START]Pieris rapae[END] treated with the diamide insecticides.
Diamide insecticides, such as chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, and tetrachlorantraniliprole, are a new class of insecticides that selectively target insects by affecting calcium homeostasis. While this class of insecticides are effective on a wide range of insect pests, the toxicities of diamide insecticides vary among species and life stages. In this study, we addressed the mechanism underlying the different responses of Plutella xylostella and [START]Pieris rapae[END] to diamide insecticides. The susceptibility to insecticides of P. xylostella and [START]P. rapae[END] larvae was assessed 2 and 4 days after exposure to chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, and tetrachlorantraniliprole. P. xylostella larvae treated with distilled water (Group A), chlorantraniliprole (Group B), cyantraniliprole (Group C), and tetrachlorantraniliprole (Group D) and [START]P. rapae[END] larvae treated with distilled water (Group E), chlorantraniliprole (Group F), cyantraniliprole (Group G) and tetrachlorantraniliprole (Group H) were subjected to metabolomics analysis. The differential metabolites in the B vs. F, C vs. G, and D vs. H groups were analyzed, followed by pathway enrichment analysis. Chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, and tetrachlorantraniliprole all showed high toxicities for P. xylostella and [START]P. rapae[END] larvae. [START]P. rapae[END] larvae were more sensitive to the diamide insecticides than P. xylostella larvae. There were 65 overlapped differential metabolites between P. xylostella and [START]P. rapae[END] larvae treated with these three diamide insecticides. Pathway analysis showed that the differential metabolites were closely related with fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism-related pathways. The differential regulation of fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism may contribute to the different response to diamide insecticides in P. xylostella and [START]P. rapae[END].
",32888611
0,64459,"Wing coupling mechanism in the butterfly [START]Pieris rapae[END] (Lepidoptera, Pieridae) and its role in taking off.
The small white cabbage butterfly ([START]Pieris rapae[END]) flaps its fore- and hindwings in synchrony as the wings are coupled using a wing ""coupling mechanism"". The coupling mechanism of butterflies includes an enlarged humeral area located at the anterior of the hindwing base and a corresponding basal posterior part of the forewing, of which the former component dorsally contacts the ventral side of the latter one. The coupling mechanism allows for the fore- and hindwings sliding in contact along the span and chord. It is of interest that butterflies still take off successfully and fly, when their wing couplings are clipped, but they are unable to properly synchronize the fore- and hindwing motions. Compared with the regular takeoff trajectory of intact butterflies that always first fly backwards and then forwards, the coupling-clipped butterflies took off in a random trajectory. Due to the clipping of the coupling mechanism, the initiation of the hindwing flapping and the abdomen rotation from upward to downward during takeoff was postponed. The coupling-clipped butterflies changed their stroke plane in upstroke to a more vertical position and strengthened the abdominal undulation. We believe our work, which for the first time investigates the influence of coupling mechanism removal on insect flight, extends our understanding on the working principle of wing coupling in insects and its significance on the flapping flight.
",33662377
0,64459,"Identification of a gustatory receptor tuned to sinigrin in the cabbage butterfly [START]Pieris rapae[END].
Glucosinolates are token stimuli in host selection of many crucifer specialist insects, but the underlying molecular basis for host selection in these insects remains enigmatic. Using a combination of behavioral, electrophysiological, and molecular methods, we investigate glucosinolate receptors in the cabbage butterfly [START]Pieris rapae[END]. Sinigrin, as a potent feeding stimulant, elicited activity in larval maxillary lateral sensilla styloconica, as well as in adult medial tarsal sensilla. Two [START]P. rapae[END] gustatory receptor genes PrapGr28 and PrapGr15 were identified with high expression in female tarsi, and the subsequent functional analyses showed that Xenopus oocytes only expressing PrapGr28 had specific responses to sinigrin; when ectopically expressed in Drosophila sugar sensing neurons, PrapGr28 conferred sinigrin sensitivity to these neurons. RNA interference experiments further showed that knockdown of PrapGr28 reduced the sensitivity of adult medial tarsal sensilla to sinigrin. Taken together, we conclude that PrapGr28 is a gustatory receptor tuned to sinigrin in [START]P. rapae[END], which paves the way for revealing the molecular basis of the relationships between crucifer plants and their specialist insects.
",34264948
0,64459,"Characterization of Limonoids Isolated from the Fruits of Melia toosendan and Their Antifeedant Activity against [START]Pieris rapae[END].
The fruits of Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc. (Meliaceae) are a source of bioactive limonoids that can be used as effective pesticides. In this study, two novel limonoids, 6-acetylsendanal and 6-ketocinamodiol, were isolated together with fourteen known compounds, namely four protolimonoids, six trichilin-class limonoids, and four C-seco limonoids. The structures of the new compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses (HR-ESI-MS, UV, IR, 1D and 2D NMR). The bioassay results revealed that eleven of the extracted limonoids exhibited interesting antifeedant activities against the larvae of [START]Pieris rapae[END] with AFC50 values in the range of 0.11-1.79 mm. Particularly, mesendanin H, with an AFC50 value of 0.11 mm, exhibited a higher activity than the positive control toosendanin. Information on new bioactive limonoids may provide further insight into M. toosendan as a source of bioactive components.
",32181982